100 Reasons to Exercise
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of Optimal Health’s loyal subscribers!
As so many people resolve to start or increase exercising in the new year, I thought I’d give you no fewer than 100 reasons to do so. Call it an electronic stocking stuffer.
Going through old papers I found this article from my exercise physiology course in college. It’s titled 100 Reasons to Exercise by James Peterson, Cedric Bryant, and Jerry Napp.
I agree with and endorse all 100 points, so I see no need to add anything. Enjoy!
Reduces risk of heart disease
Increases muscle strength
Improves immune system function
Enhances reproductive health
Helps manage stress
Helps lose fat
Improves chance of surviving a heart attack
Can relieve pain from headaches
Improves ability to metabolize fat
Increases bone density
Preserves lean body tissue
Reduces risk of hypertension
Increases density of ligaments and tendons
Improves coronary circulation
Increases HDL
Assists in smoking cessation
Reduces risk of diabetes
Improves short-term memory in elderly
Maintains weight loss (unlike dieting alone)
Relieves discomforts of pregnancy
Reduces anxiety
Reduces BP in hypertensive people
Reduces blood viscosity
Reduces risk of arrhythmias
Increases VO2 max
Helps overcome jet lag
Slows rate of joint degeneration
Lowers resting heart rate
Boosts creativity
Reduces blood triglycerides
Helps resist upper respiratory diseases
Increases anaerobic threshold
Reduces healthcare expenses
Improves ability to recover from intense exertion
Helps recover from chemotherapy
Increases blood supply to skin (for cooling)
Increases joint cartilage thickness
Increases energy reserves for daily demands
Increases muscle endurance
Improves quality of sleep
Improves posture
Improves athletic performance
Helps maintain resting metabolic rate
Reduces risk of colon cancer
Increases insulin sensitivity in Type II diabetics
Relieves constipation
Expands blood plasma volume
Reduces risk of prostate cancer
Helps combat substance abuse
Helps alleviate depression
Increases adaptability to cold
Maintains proper muscle balance
Reduces rate and severity of medical complications
Helps alleviate menstrual symptoms
Lowers heart rate response to exertion
Helps alleviate low-back pain
Reduces insulin requirements in Type I diabetics
Improves mental alertness
Improves respiratory muscle strength and endurance
Reduces risk of stroke
Burns excess calories
Increases cardiac reserve
Improves physical appearance
Offsets negative side-effects of some medications
Increases stroke volume per heart beat
Improves self-esteem
Reduces susceptibility to clots
Helps you relax
Reduces risk of breast cancer
Improves mental cognition
Maintains or improves joint range of motion
Improves glucose tolerance
Reduces missed workdays due to illness
Protects against “creeping obesity”
Enhances muscles’ ability to extract oxygen from blood
Increases work productivity
Reduces likelihood of low-back problems
Improves balance and coordination
Allows consumption of more food without creating caloric excess
Provides injury protection
Decreases needs for hypertensive medications
Improves decision making abilities
Helps reduce and prevent menopause symptoms
Helps relieve and prevent migraine headaches
Reduces risk of endometriosis
Retards bone loss
Helps decrease appetite (short-term effect)
Improves pain tolerance
Helps prevent and relieve carpal tunnel syndrome
Improves heart contraction efficiency
Decreases left ventricular hypertrophy
Improves mood
Increases overall health awareness
Reduces risk of GI bleeds
Helps maintain an independent lifestyle
Reduces abdominal obesity
Increases lung diffusion capacity
Improves heat tolerance
Improves quality of life
Helps protect against Alzheimer’s
If you need help initiating or planning an exercise routine, fill out this contact form.