Lack of exercise is the fourth leading risk factor for premature death

exercisehttps://www.naturalhealth365.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/exercis... 70w, https://www.naturalhealth365.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/exercis... 45w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" height="150" width="150" />(NaturalHealth365) At first glimpse, there would seem to be nothing inherently dangerous about sitting in a chair or sofa, watching TV or working on a laptop – right? But, appearances can be deceiving – especially if you don’t exercise on a regular basis.

Sitting for many consecutive hours a day, unrelieved by physical activity, constitutes a sedentary lifestyle – and the associated health risks are grave. In 2014, the World Health Organization released a list of the five main causes of premature death worldwide. Shockingly, lack of exercise ranked fourth – right behind high blood pressure, smoking, and elevated blood sugar.

The truth is: when it comes to cutting life expectancy, lack of exercise is more of a threat than being overweight or obese – and may account for close to 10 percent of all premature deaths. Fortunately, the formula can be reversed.

The “heart” of the matter: Exercise helps protect against cardiovascular disease and diabetes

Cardiorespiratory health – the efficient functioning of the heart and lungs — is (unsurprisingly) linked to improved health and longevity. According to researchers, there is no pharmaceutical medication on the planet more effective than cardiorespiratory fitness in reducing the risk of chronic disease and death – quite a ringing endorsement for exercise.

Simply put, regular physical activity improves cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, inflammation, glucose and insulin metabolism, endothelial function, cerebral blood flow and lipids in the blood. Getting sufficient exercise can reduce risk of heart attack by a substantial 30 percent – and several studies have shown that exercise can benefit existing cardiovascular disease.

Note: it’s best to consult with a trusted, medical doctor – before starting an exercise program – especially if you have medical issues.

Regular exercise also protects against diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity and controlling blood sugar, blood pressure and levels of fats in the blood. Studies have shown that combining physical activity with weight loss can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by an astounding 58 percent in high-risk groups.

Exercise not only helps prevent diabetes, but can help reverse it. Studies show that increasing physical activity (with calorie restriction) can lead to partial or complete remission of diabetes in over 10 percent of patients within one year.

Exercise helps to maintain brainpower and memory – while reducing the risk of dementia

Soaring rates of neurodegenerative disease have caused researchers to race to discover effective methods of prevention. And their studies suggest that exercise could be among the keys to protecting against Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Researchers know that exercise prevents cognitive decline and protects neurological health – and they even know some of the reasons why.

Physical activity improves the transmission of information between nerve cells, while increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor – an essential signaling protein that helps to regulate brain plasticity. (Plasticity is the ability of the brain to modify its connections and adapt to experience).

In addition, regular physical exercise improves the clearance in the brain of amyloid-beta, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease. One study showed that aerobic exercise – such as running, swimming, walking or dancing – increased production of BDNF in the hippocampus, the section of the brain involved with learning and episodic memory.

Aerobic exercise also mitigates brain shrinkage, the loss of brain volume that occurs with age.

Not only is exercise beneficial later in life – but in young adulthood as well. In a study of over 2,700 individuals aged 18 to 30 years, researchers found an association between aerobic fitness and better verbal memory in middle age.

In a review published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia in 2015, the authors reported that middle-aged participants who engaged in recreational physical activity were less likely to develop dementia 28 years later, compared with those who were less active.

And, one study showed that progressive muscle training in aged humans not only caused improvements in memory capacity – but actually increased the size of the hippocampus.

Exercise protects our DNA and mitochondria

Other research has shown the ways in which exercise promotes health at a cellular level.

Physical activity protects cell DNA against oxidative damage, while helping to rejuvenate mitochondria, the all-important “battery pack” of our cells. One study showed that resistance exercise decreased oxidative DNA damage in aging individuals, while promoting mitochondrial biogenesis. In other words, exercise enhanced the production of new mitochondria in muscle and brain tissue.

And, the act of exercising activates an enzyme called AMPK, or adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase – which promotes the burning of fats and glucose.

Exercise can even benefit the “friendly” gut bacteria that maintain health. Animal studies have shown that physical activity improves the diversity and balance of the microbes living in the digestive tract. And a healthy balance of intestinal microbiota may help to maintain healthy weight – thereby helping to protect against obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and a related constellation of disorders.

Exercise combats diseases related to aging

One of the most heartening features of exercise is the beneficial effect it can have later in life, when maintaining muscle strength and functional capacity pays off in a decreased risk of disease and disability.

Regular physical activity helps to ward off sarcopenia – the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength – as well as osteoporosis, defined by low bone mass and greater fracture risk. Sarcopenia and osteoporosis not only increase the risk of broken bones and falls, but are associated with decreased mobility, frailty and a higher risk of death.

Once again, aerobic exercise and resistance training can come to the rescue by Increasing bone mass and muscular strength – along with balance, coordination and mobility. Reviews of literature have revealed a consensus: exercise is the single natural intervention that can consistently improve sarcopenia in older adults.

Note: It’s not necessary to bench press, pedal your bicycle into the next county or slice through the water like an Olympic swimmer to obtain benefits from exercise – especially if you are of mature years. Studies have shown that even modest exercise – as little as 75 minutes of brisk walking a week – can help prolong life.

So, what are you waiting for? Get moving and help yourself to create a longer, healthier life.

Sources for this article include:

HopkinsMedicine.org
LifeExtension.com
LifeExtension.com
NIH.gov

Views: 81

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

tjdavis posted videos
6 hours ago
Less Prone favorited Sandy's video
yesterday
Doc Vega's 7 blog posts were featured
yesterday
tjdavis's blog post was featured
yesterday
Sandy posted a video

"Mommy Tells Me I'm a Girl"-Jeff Younger

Soft White Underbelly interview and portrait of Jeff Younger, a father who is fighting to protect his son from transitioning into a girl. Get 40% off access ...
yesterday
tjdavis posted a video

MindWar: Full Spectrum Cognitive Dominance [Michael Aquino Analysis]

This is my analysis and my thoughts on Michael Aquino's "MindWar". This document is a must-read if you are looking to understand the psyop tactics and cognit...
Saturday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

A Horrid Murder at Land Between the Lakes (Sasquatch?)

 Most of us hear that Sasquatch-Bigfoot are intelligent yet reclusive creatures that are closely…See More
Friday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Thursday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's video
Thumbnail

Metropolis (1927) Full Movie | 4K Color Remastered: 2023 Colorized with Gottfried Huppertz Score

"Hey thanks for the thumbs up guys. I was blown away (like a leaf in a tornado) when I watched this…"
Thursday
tjdavis favorited cheeki kea's video
Thursday
tjdavis posted a video

Did you know this? I was SHOCKED!

Wounder how many people know what they do to baby chicks? Wounder if they know what the are doing to Salmon? What about the lettuce and tomatoes? This will n...
Thursday
cheeki kea posted a photo
Thursday
Less Prone posted a video

Pine Tree Riots - We'll Have Our Home Again

NOW ON SPOTIFY (and everywhere else)!https://open.spotify.com/album/1gWcRqHD7TSbAA2UzYOLWlEvery people deserves a Homeland.Sung by no one in particular.Origi...
Tuesday
Less Prone favorited cheeki kea's video
Mar 24
cheeki kea posted a video

Metropolis (1927) Full Movie | 4K Color Remastered: 2023 Colorized with Gottfried Huppertz Score

🎉🎬 AT LAST❗❗ Metropolis is the FIRST film we colorized using our newly developed AI colorization software, and we are proud to bring it to you now with the...
Mar 24
tjdavis posted a video
Mar 24
Burbia commented on Burbia's video
Thumbnail

ED Raids Entities Linked To George Soros’s Open Society Foundation | Details

"The Directorate of Enforcement is a multi-disciplinary organization mandated with investigation…"
Mar 24
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post This about Sums it Up Written by Former Marine Corps Noncom Officer
"It took a US Marine Sergeant to put it all together like this and sum up all the intentional…"
Mar 22
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Mar 22
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Without the Truth
"cheeki kea, Thank you so much. Your words are so encouraging!"
Mar 22

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted