Credit: http://www.forumflyers.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4195614
Author: Bonnie Liebman
The whole article by Bonnie Liebman is found here, but the summary is below.
“Here are 10 ways inactivity can take a toll on your body:”
- Diabetes. Biochemists and physicians talk about the metabilic syndrome” that leads to type 2 diabetes, but it really should be called the inactivity syndrome.
- Cancer. Active people have 30-40% lower risk of colon cancer. Active women have less breast cancer.
- The Brain. Physically active people have lower risk, about 50% lower, for cognitive decline and dementia than inactive people.
- The Heart. Active people have much lower rish of heart attack and dying of heart disease.
- Stroke. Same goes for stroke.
- Muscles. Muscle atrophy is a serious problem for the elderly. The way to avoid it is through exercise.
- Bones. Osteoporosis is a major problem, much of which can be ameliorated through weight-bearing exercise.
- Mental health. Exercise is great for the psyche as well as the body.
- Weight. Exercise helps control body weight.
- Immune system. Regular exercise may boost the immune systme…unless you overdo it. “Marathon runners have a higher risk of colds after a race, because immune function goes down after a prolonged intense bout of exercise.” [My own comment on this is that the training is so valuable to boost the immune system that I’m not worried about the increased chance of catching a cold after a marathon.]
The article goes on to say that the benefits of exercise require that you work out at least 30 minutes a day [5-6 days per week], but 60-90 minutes is better for substantial weight loss. To build muscles and avoid bone loss, do strength training exercises at least twice per week.