Does Exercise Help To Protect Your Health?

Do you get at least 30 minutes’ worth of exercise three days a week? According to Gallup’s Annual Well-Being Survey, most Americans fall short of this fitness goal.   Even if you eat properly, you need regular exercise to optimize your health.  Some of the key health benefits of exercise include helping to normalize your glucose, insulin and leptin levels.  These are all crucial factors for optimizing your overall health, preventing chronic disease and may explain why exercise is such a potent preventive medicine.

When you exercise, you increase your circulation and your blood flow throughout your body. The components of your immune system are also better circulated, which means your immune system has a better chance of finding an illness before it spreads. This includes seasonal colds and the flu.

Ideally, to get the most benefits from your exercise, you need to push your body hard enough for a challenge while allowing adequate time for recovery and repair.

High-intensity interval training , which requires just a fraction of the time of conventional cardio, has been shown to be far more efficient and effective, compared to longer and slower cardio workouts.  High intensity interval training consists of a series of short bursts of high-intensity exercise, sandwiched between less intense intervals.  This maximizes your secretion of human growth hormone (HGH), optimizes your metabolism and helps to regulate your insulin and blood sugar.

Another overlooked factor that can make a significant difference in your health is simple walking, especially if you walk with good posture. Walking has been found to have a multitude of significant health benefits.

Reduced flexibility, which tends to occur with age and inactivity, can create body movements and posture habits that significantly alter and reduce your mobility. Poor posture and chronic pain is a common result  of poor flexibility. Yoga is one form of exercise that can make a significant difference in this area.

It is great idea to try to keep moving and try to avoid sitting for more than 15 minutes at a time.  Also, try to do these 4 activities 3 times a week:

1.  High Intensity Interval Training

2.  Core Exercises For Your Back Abs & Pelvis

3.  Stretching Exercises

4.  Strength Training

You should consult a physician prior to starting any exercise program.

For More Information:

http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2014/03/28/exercise-flu-prevention.aspx?e_cid=20140...