It may not be headline news to you that exercise is good for weight control, but the many other benefits of exercise may surprise you.
Did you know, for instance, that exercise can strengthen not only your muscles but also your bones?
Doctors at the University of California at San Francisco measured the mineral density in the spinal bones of 46 young men. Some exercised regularly. Others spent all their free time watching soaps and playing cards. The doctors found that bone density was 14 percent greater in the group that exercised regularly. So what good are mineral- dense bones? For one, they are less likely to fracture, a common problem among the elderly.
Exercising may also beef up your immune system, and by so doing, prevent certain kinds of cancer. Researchers at Harvard found that women who had been active in basketball, swimming, tennis, track, gymnastics, volleyball, or other sports in college later had a lower incidence of breast cancer than their inactive peers.
One survey found that the executives, who regularly participate in sports like running, basketball, and swimming, annually earn $3,000 more than their less athletic counterparts. One theory is that active people exude confidence, competitiveness and energy – qualities for which employers are willing to pay a premium.
Physical activity fights aging. People who remain active throughout their entire lives can gain as much as a 25-year advantage in performance ability over people who retire to their easy chairs. The physically active are also far less likely to suffer from depression. Scientists can’t say for sure, but many studies show that exercise beats the blues.
Related posts:
- Is Alcohol Good for Bones?
- Yoga for Swimmers
- Snoring In Kids Can Be Reduced By Exercise
- Effects of Caffeine on the Body
- Top Winter Sports For Health And Fitness
- Exercises for Emphysema
- Physical Activity May Reduce The Risk Of Cancer
- Benefits of Swimming Exercise and Tips
- Do Some Housework To Reduce The Risk Of Breast Cancer
- Breathing Exercises for Asthma Patients
