4 Reasons to Exercise

  “Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”

Edward Stanley

Get all-natural pain relief

It may seem counterintuitive, but rest isn’t necessarily best for reducing pain and stiffness in the knees, shoulders, back, or neck. Healthy adults who exercised consistently had 25 percent less pain than their sedentary peers, says Stanford senior research scientist Bonnie Bruce. Exercise releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain reliever, and may make you less vulnerable to tiny tears in muscles and tendons. Staying active can also provide relief for chronic conditions such as arthritis: In a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study, arthritis sufferers experienced 25 percent less pain and 16 percent less stiffness after 6 months of low-impact exercise like balance and strengthening moves. The author of the study Dr. Leigh Callahan, associate professor of medicine at UNC, says most people start to feel improvement within a few weeks.

Slash your risk of getting a cold by 33 percent

Moderate exercise doesn’t just rev your metabolism—it boosts your immune system, too, helping your body fight off cold bugs and other germs. A University of Washington study found that women ages 50 to 75 who did 45 minutes of cardio, five days a week, had a third as many colds as those who did once-weekly stretching sessions.

Lower your dental bills

It turns out that Flossing and brushing, are not the only keys to a healthy smile. Exercise plays an important role, too. In a recent study, it was discovered that adults who exercised five or more times a week were 42 percent less likely to suffer from periodontitis, a gum disease that’s more common as you get older. Working out may thwart periodontitis the same way it does heart disease—by lowering levels of inflammation-causing C-reactive protein in the blood.

Increase your ability to reach your deep-sleep zone

Women age 60 and older who walked or danced for at least an hour, four times a week, woke up half as often and slept an average 48 minutes more a night than sedentary women, according to a study in the journal Sleep Medicine. That’s good news for those who toss and turn more as they get older. As you age, sleep patterns start shifting, so you spend more of the night in lighter sleep phases.