Health Benefits of Exercise: What You Should Know Before You Start
Exercise is not just important for weight control — it also brings immense general health benefits. The facts are startling:
1. Studies have shown that inactivity is as great a risk factor for heart disease as a 20-a-day cigarette habit and is as bad as having hypertension or raised cholesterol.
2. The unfit have two and a half times more risk of early cardiac death than the fit.
3. Taking sufficient exercise can override or neutralize bad eating habits.
4. Regular exercise lowers blood pressure and improves blood sugar control in diabetics.
5. Exercise lowers the level of ‘bad’ cholesterol and raises the level of ‘good’ cholesterol.
6. Exercise boosts the body’s production of its own antioxidant enzymes.
How Much Exercise
We know roughly how much exercise is needed to reduce the risk of illness. Doing 2,500 calories worth of exercise per week reduces the risk of a heart attack, 1 mile of brisk walking per day reduces the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by up to 58%, and 2,900 calories of exercise per week is sufficient in most cases to maintain a healthy body weight. That may sound like a lot of calories but it is achievable. read more »
