Being active is one of the best things you can do for your health. Research continues to grow on the many physical and mental benefits of being active. Physical activity helps individuals live longer and healthier lives, protecting them from heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, while improving mental health, sleep, heart, lung, and muscle function.
My website features the following fitness sections:
- Sports Science Research Updates
- Masters Athletes
- Injury Management and Prevention
- Sheila’s Racing
- Fitness and Sports Science Reading and Resources
More Benefits of Physical Activity
Being physically active can help reduce stress, and help our bodies deal with hormones that are released when we’re under stress. Physical activity also helps our bodies better metabolize sugars and carbohydrates.
In fact, exercise is ‘potentially as effective’ as many drugs for some diseases, but unfortunately, our health system sees most physicians prescribing drugs rather than counseling for exercise. Also, most of our communities and surroundings actually discourage physical activity and encourage sedentary habits.
Sedentary Behavior. We all sit too much. An emerging field of research is finding 
health consequences to being sedentary or sitting for long periods.
So you see, your body was made to move! Even if you’re an athlete, if you have a desk job, schedule breaks to get up and move.
Make Time for Break Time shows you how different amounts of activity influence indicators of cancer, and likely other chronic disease risk.
Do what it takes to get moving
Active commuting is a great way to integrate activity into your daily routine. Otherwise, and in addition, plan time in the day to exercise: find activities that you enjoy, and do whatever it takes make your days active. The health consequences of being “too busy” to exercise are real.
