Two new reasons to exercise

Exercise is good for you. Exercise is important. These are givens. In fact, most people are aware that being physically active daily has many benefits including lowering the risk of stroke and heart disease and lowering high blood pressure, keeping bones strong, reducing the risk for diabetes and helping to control diabetes, improving symptoms of depression, reducing pain associated with arthritis, and reducing the risk of falls. If that is not enough, here are two more reasons to exercise!

Nutrition Action Healthletter, December, 2009 issue, describes the recent research that provides more motivation to get up and get moving.

Exercise can reduce the risk of certain cancers. A study of research done on exercise and colon cancer showed that those who were physically active were 21% less likely to be diagnosed with this type compared with those who were the most inactive. Risk of developing breast cancer also was reduced by physical activity. A longitudinal study of 119,000 middle aged women over the course of seven years showed that getting at least an hour of moderate to vigorous exercise daily reduced the risk for diagnosis by 16%.

Exercise can also increase brain power. A University of Illinois study of older adults showed that specifically aerobic exercise increased brain size, creating new nerve cells and synapses. These are what are needed for memory and learning. Another study showed that increased fitness level correlated to increased spatial memory, the memory that helps us make connections between things and events and knowing what goes where. Aerobic exercise also helps with executive function. That is the ability to make decisions, plan, organize and know how to handle new situations.

So find a way to exercise that you enjoy – on your own, with a buddy, or on a team – and make a commitment to yourself so you can lower your risk for cancer, improve your brain power and enjoy the host of benefits that come from aerobic and other physical activity.