Research proves the many benefits of exercise

BY JULIE SEAMER
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2008

We know that exercise is good for us, but is it proven? The answer is a resounding yes! According to studies exercise training brings the following key benefits:

Controls blood glucose

Long term physical exercise significantly reduces the risk of developing non-insulin independent diabetes ¹. Why? People who exercise regularly have increased muscle glucose transporters contributing to enhanced responsiveness/uptake to insulin.

Reduces Insulin resistance

Exercise improves resting substrate oxidation and promotes lipid utilisation in skeletal muscle creating a reversal of insulin resistance ^2.

Anti-ageing

According to a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine that tracked 500 runners for over 20 years, regular running slows the effects of ageing. It was also found that elderly runners have fewer disabilities and are half as likely as non-runners to die early (ie: running promotes a longer span of life) ³.

Resistance training brings benefits too:

Any form of exercise where you push or pull against a resistance (like weight lifting or swimming) maintains and builds lean muscle mass throughout life. This helps the body to:

utilise energy and reduce body fat levels ⁴.
promote strong and healthy bones preventing osteoporosis (by effectively stressing the skeletal system to build bone tissue) ⁵.
encourages the neuromuscular system to work as a unit to maintain balance, co-ordination and strength. This is a great benefit given that as we age our ability for co-ordination and balance declines, increasing the risk of falls and subsequent injuries ^6.

It's never too late to get moving. Find what feels right for you and start slowly gradually building up intensity and duration. Remember that exercise increases some nutritional requirements; adapt your diet to suit your increased activity and enjoy the many benefits of being an active person.