| "Exercise is good for you!" If you had a dollar for | | | | lowers cholesterol, thereby decreasing the |
| every time you heard this statement uttered, | | | | likelihood of a heart attack or stroke. The AHA |
| you'd be rich by now, right? Well, proponents of | | | | also touts exercise's ability to counteract the |
| everyday physical activity aren't just blowing | | | | health problems plaguing today's young people: |
| smoke when they repeat this mantra. Medical | | | | obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and |
| research has uncovered resounding evidence to | | | | poor lifestyle habits. In so doing, it prevents the |
| back up this "good for you" claim. In fact, the U.S. | | | | conditions that lead to heart attacks and strokes |
| Surgeon General, the American College of Sports | | | | later in life. |
| Medicine (ACSM) and the National Centers for | | | | The U.S. Surgeon General, while echoing the AHA's |
| Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion | | | | claims, narrows down physical activity's benefits |
| all recommend the same thing when it comes to | | | | into specific categories. Overall, he maintains that |
| regular exercise: American adults should aim for | | | | exercise reduces one's risk of dying prematurely, |
| 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity | | | | but explicitly mentions a reduction in heart disease, |
| physical activity on most, and preferably all, days | | | | diabetes, high blood pressure, colon cancer, |
| of the week. | | | | depression and anxiety and obesity among its |
| Inquiring minds want to know, so how exactly will | | | | lifesaving advantages. According to the U.S. |
| daily exercise impact your health and well-being? | | | | Surgeon General, healthier bones muscles and |
| Regular physical activity positively affects not only | | | | joints as well as improved psychological well-being |
| your body but also your mind. That's right: | | | | are some of the other benefits regular exercisers |
| Exercise simultaneously improves your physical, | | | | enjoy. |
| your emotional and your psychological health. In | | | | In an article entitled "The Psychological Benefits of |
| fact, it's a triple-threat combatant against the | | | | Your Exercise Program," Fitness Management |
| physical and mental disorders Americans most | | | | magazine further details physical activity's |
| often face: heart disease, diabetes, stroke, stress, | | | | favorable effects on emotional and mental health. |
| anxiety and depression, just to name a few. | | | | In particular, the article cites the following |
| When industry experts stand in staunch | | | | psychological advantages of exercise: 1) It |
| agreement, you know it's time to focus your | | | | reduces feelings of anxiety, worry, self-doubt and |
| attention on their advice and take their concurring | | | | uncertainty about the future; 2) It lower stress |
| counsel to heart. To that end, consider daily | | | | levels and the accompanying physical complaints, |
| exercise's benefits as purported by three of the | | | | such as headaches and muscle tension; 3) It |
| leading medical sources: the American Heart | | | | energizes, thereby enhancing one's mood; 4) It |
| Association, the Surgeon General's Report on | | | | improves sleep quality; and 5) It improves one's |
| Exercise and Fitness Management magazine. | | | | self-image and -confidence by keeping weight |
| The American Heart Association (AHA) lists a | | | | down and elevating mood. |
| reduction in the risk of heart disease at the top | | | | So, while an apple a day is still sound advice, it |
| of its daily physical activity benefit list. Exercise | | | | seems exercising every day is the new and |
| improves circulation throughout the body and | | | | improved ticket to keeping the doctor away. |