The Body: Keep it Moving Dec 18, 2016

The Body: Keep it Moving

Keeping the body moving is essential to good health. A sedentary lifestyle lends itself to a lot of negative outcomes. Research has proven the benefits to be many. Keeping the body moving wards off disease and illness and is also good for the mind and soul.

Getting the body moving lowers cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, increases immunity, increases circulation, improves heart function, builds strong bones preventing osteoporosis, improves oxygen and nutrients to all cells in the body and is excellent for stress relief. Now if that isn’t enough to get you moving, not sure what will. It not only improves health but also prevents many diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

Lately, I’ve had many of my patients tell me, “I’m exercising.” “I get over 10,000 steps a day according to my fit bit.  Unfortunately it is not the same. You need 30 minutes of fast paced continuous exercise, 4 days a week to get the heart pumping and keep it pumping. It is a great way to keep those arteries clean.  A 30-minute power walk daily can do more for you than any doctor or medication. According to the Seattle Cancer Research Center, 35% of all cancer deaths may be related to lack of exercise. I hear many of my patients tell me, “I walk all day on my job.” Or, “I clean up and babysit all day.” Not the same. It’s about getting the heart pumping and breaking a sweat.

I am reminded of an old pond in the back of my grandfather’s house when I was a kid. The water was stagnant with moss and all kinds of things growing on top of the pond. It is the same with our blood vessels if the blood isn’t pumped through and kept moving. Things like plaque build up on the vessels leading to multiple diseases and poor circulation. Fast paced aerobic exercise, like power walking, pumps the blood through faster and strengthens the heart muscle.

As we get ready to begin a new year, make a commitment along with me to get moving. Get off the sofa. Turn the TV off. Put Facebook down and get active. Take a nice hike in nature. You can swim, ride your bike, power walk, practice yoga, or whatever you enjoy. Remember the golden rule: 30-minutes of face paced continuous exercise, 4 days a week. Let’s get our bodies moving in an effort to be in optimal health.

Peace and blessings