Blog: It's Flu Season-Better Get Out and Start Exercising

There is no question at all: people who regularly exercise get sick less than their non-exercising counterparts.

Exercise and a healthy immune system go hand in hand. Not only do you become more resistant to to viruses, but studies demonstrate time and time again that cancer and heart disease mortality rates are significantly lower in people who regularly exercise.

Consistent exercise has been shown to neutralize inflammatory chemicals and improve the function of the body's natural killer cells---both important players in viral immunity.

Moderate aerobic exercise will create numerous positive immune changes. This positive effect is triggered every time you exercise and can last anywhere from 1-3 hours after the specific activity.

Exercise also enhances the circulation of immune cells in your blood. These specific cells are important because it's their duty to locate pathogens throughout the body and neutralize them.

Of all the systems in your body, the immune system is your best line of defense against anything from the common cold or flu to even major illnesses and diseases.

Maybe exercise is "not for you" or you just feel like there is no time. Well, my response to the latter is MAKE TIME. There will be hundreds of reasons why you cannot exercise.

If you have never been an exercise type person before, it is never too late to get started.

This does not have to require you to join a gym or a class. This may make some people uncomfortable. Simple exercises such as a brisk 30 minute walk, a bicycle ride or even a light jog may be a great start for beginners.

Gradually increasing the frequency and duration as well as implementing strength training are all keys here.

For optimal results, you could journal each time you exercise, what you did, for how long and how many reps/sets. This should be a gratifying way to measure your improvement.

As with anything, moderation is important here. In fact, hardcore exercisers are actually more prone to sicknesses than those who perform exercise in moderation. Starting out for 20-30 minutes a day and increasing it to 45-60 minutes a day is a very achievable goal.

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