FitSugar

Exercise Your Way to Being Smarter, Study Says

Leta Shy — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:05:23 PST

Turns out that exercise helps us grow more than impressive muscles - it can also help us grow new brain cells, according to a new study. The study also found, however, that loneliness can hinder the effects of exercise on the brain.

Investigators found that mice who lived together grew brain cells after exercising on running wheels, while the ones who were kept isolated and exercised did not. The scientists speculate that the lack of brain cell growth in isolated mice could be because the stress of being lonely releases hormones that reduce the rate of brain cell growth; while exercise also releases the same stress hormones, being social helps revert the negative effects.

While this is not the first time we've heard that exercise can make you smarter, the ability for daily exercise to promote brain cell growth is always good news for fitness fans, and the powerful effects of socializing are yet another reminder of the benefits of a good workout buddy (and not only that, a reminder to make time for the important people in your life)!

Another Reason to Exercise: Preventing Alzheimer's

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:00:36 PDT

Regular exercise doesn't necessarily prevent Alzheimer's - except when it does. That's the rather fuzzy but encouraging conclusion reached by the National Institutes of Health this week.

Although there is no conclusive evidence that fitness, healthy eating, and mental exercise such as crossword puzzles can fend off Alzheimer's, scientists remain highly optimistic based on years' worth of animal studies. The NIH determined that some human studies have proven that exercise helps, while others didn't. According to neuroscientist Arthur Kramer:

"The benefits tend to be on the order of a 20 to 30 percent reduction in being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and other such diseases . . . this isn't universal but this is found in an increasing number of studies."

Alzheimer's probably isn't your number one concern right now. But if you need a little extra motivation to exercise this week, it's nice to know our healthy lifestyles could be helping in more ways than we thought.

The anecdotal evidence is also inspiring. I love the quote at the end of this NPR story, from 78-year-old Senator Richard Lugar, who still runs races because he says exercise helps him remember "the names and places of thousands of people and events that I bring up frequently in the course of debate." Health advice from a 78 year old who still runs races? I'll take it!

Another Reason to Exercise: It Protects Against Swine Flu

FitSugar — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:30:56 PST

The benefits of exercise seem to be neverending - among other things, it helps the brain function better, reduces stress, and is important for healthy heart function. But, if you need another reason to get out there and start moving, exercise may also protect against swine flu.

I've read that exercise helps boost the body's immune system and that doing some light cardio is good during a cold, so it made sense that it could also help protect against swine flu. But given how quickly the virus has spread, coupled with a shortage of the vaccine, I think any new advice is beneficial and should be taken seriously.

While there has not been a study on the benefits of exercise in relation to swine flu specifically, there have been numerous findings that show exercise boosts the immunity system and may protect against colds and seasonal flus.

“There is evidence that moderate exercise or physical activity can be beneficial in terms of reducing the incidence and severity of upper respiratory tract infections from all causes,” says Jeffrey Woods, a professor of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “And at least one report … has shown that exercise may be protective against influenza-associated [deaths] in the elderly.”

Because of these findings, some researchers feel comfortable suggesting that exercise may be a preventative measure against swine flu.

To hear why individuals who overtrain may be more prone to swine flu,

Boost Your Self-Esteem With a Bit of Exercise

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:00:00 PDT

Not feeling good about yourself, so skipping the gym seems like a good idea? Wrong. It seems that a little workout, no matter what kind or level of intensity, is the perfect pick-me-up for waning self-esteem. A small, but significant study found that "the simple act of exercise and not fitness itself can convince you that you look better." The physical benefits of exercise have been studied at length, but psychologists are beginning to explore the mental perks of breaking a sweat.

This study found that no matter the fitness level, working out gave a boost to the exerciser's self-image. Be you a marathoner, or new to a walking fitness program, the message is clear: get a move on if you're feeling down about yourself. Not sure where to begin? Check out these cardio routines and these circuit workouts. We want you to feel good about yourself.

Another Reason to Exercise: Keep Down Healthcare Costs

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:00:26 PDT

In these lean times, with layoffs that can often translate to losing health insurance, staying physically active can help you lower your health budget. According to the World Health Organization, physically active people save about $500 annually in healthcare expenses.These days every penny counts, so get out there and go for a walk or run. Or try a little gardening, it can be surprisingly physical. Staying physically active is also a cheap way to reduce stress.

Another Reason to Exercise: Cancer Prevention

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:00:36 PDT

If you need a reason, one with far-reaching effects, to pull yourself off the couch and exercise, I have one for you: cancer prevention. A large Japanese study found that exercising and staying physically active throughout the day can decrease your risk for cancer by 10 to 15 percent over the course for 10 years. Who knows what the next decade could bring? Being physically active is more than just running or taking a kickboxing class. While exercising regularly is great and part of cancer prevention, being physically active throughout your day, from gardening to walking, helps as well. Researchers believe that physical activity and exercise affect hormones involved in tumor production. Regular exercise combined with an active life can fight cancer - the prescription is in your hands.

Multiple Reasons to Strength Train

FitSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:00:00 PDT

Along with helping boost my metabolism and keeping my backside firm, I strength train for one very practical reason: strength. Here are a few moments from the last week where I utilized my strong muscles, and the moves that got them there:

Moving an upright piano: squats for dead lifting the instrument with three wonderful volunteers.
Using the loppers to prune unruly trees: pec fly
Pulling out stubborn weeds: all the variations of rowing, especially the classic bent-over version.
Opening the top window of my freshly painted double hung and sticky windows: standing lat pulls.
Carrying my two very full bags of groceries for two blocks: biceps curls and arm raises.
Giving a piggyback ride to my tired 4-year-old for a few too many city blocks: planks and core work - staying stable while hauling her 36 pounds around kept me out of pain.

Have you found practical uses for your strength training? Share them in the comments section below.

Source

5 Reasons to Exercise

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:10:00 PDT

Whether you're exercising to tone up for tank top and skirt season or you're working out mostly for the health benefits, we could all use a little motivation to get moving. So here are five encouraging facts about working out that will give you more than one reason to hit the gym on your lunch break.

Exercise combats fatigue. Working out releases endorphins, which improve your strength and stamina and make you feel energetic. Increased levels of serotonin in the brain also prevent depression.
Exercise is good for your brain. Because it helps build new brain cells, being active also increases serotonin levels to help you think more clearly.
Movement eases stress. Not only is it a distraction from things that might be bothering us, but exercise also results in reduced muscle tension.

There are two more reasons so

Another Reason to Exercise: Coregasms!

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:00:00 PDT

My pal DearSugar writes about sex daily. She can tell you how to have a better orgasm, and I can tell you the health benefits of having them regularly. Having sex not only relieves stress, but it also boosts your immunity. Most of the time you find the big "O" behind closed doors, but this just in - many women are experiencing them in the gym. I'm talking about something called a coregasm.

Have I caught your attention yet? If so read more.

Another Reason to Exercise: Be Happier at Work

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:00:00 PST

There are so many reasons to exercise, from deeper sleep to boosting your immune system, but I have a few more work-related reasons to add the list. Exercising before or during your workday will improve your productivity. Adding workouts to your workweek doesn't just help your boss; exercising on a workday helps with stress management and can make you happier. If you can't fit in a workout before heading to the office, schedule one during your lunch hour. Instead of a coffee break, take an activity break. Who knows? You might just start to whistle while you work.

Source