Exercise- Nature's Remedy

Let me start out by saying that nearly 60 percent of all Americans are overweight. 17 percent are children and teens. Not only are many Americans heavy, most of experience severe health problems because of their weight.

When people think of exercise, they most commonly equate it with weight loss. For example, when a woman wants to "get back into" that dress she wore 10 years ago, or a man wants to shed some unwanted pounds around his waistline, they know they need to boost their physical activity.

Certainly, achieving and maintaining a health weight is a reason to exercise, but there are many other forgotten reasons why exercise is so good for your health.

Three Ph.D. health specialists wrote a recent article entitled “100 Reasons to Exercise in the New Millennium”. Many of the reasons to exercise were obvious such as, helps you loose weight, helps maintain weight loss, and increases overall health. But how are some of the ways exercise keeps you healthy?

* Reduces your risk of getting heart disease (the number 1 killer in America)
* Improves the functions of your immune system, causing less sickness and less
healthcare expenses
* Helps you to manage stress and anxiety, improving your mood
* Helps improve short-term memory loss in the elderly
* Helps to improve creativity, mental sharpness, and decision-making abilities
* Increases density of bones
* Gives you more energy for daily tasks

So now that you are aware of the benefits of exercise, how much time should you spend engaging in physical activity? Experts recommend 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise 3-4 times per week.

Think you don't have time to exercise with life's pressures and demands? Sneak a walk, take the stairs, or park farther away from the grocery store entrance. Those extra efforts add up and really do make a difference. Before you know it, you will love how you feel, and you'll find yourself carving out time to exercise.

Julie Anne Osterhus
Marketing Specialist
Uri International
www.jewelsofhealth.biz