| There a many benefits to be gained from a regular exercise program. You can drop to your ideal weight,which gives you increased strength and endurance. Exercise taken in the morning results in greater weight loss than the same amount taken at night. Dr. Lee S. Berk, assistant research professor of pathology, Loma Linda, California, found that " in runners and other routine exercisers, an endocrine hormone called beta-endorphin becomes elevated differently than in sedentary people. A natural opiate(pain-killing)substance, beta-endorphin not only kills pain and makes you feel good but also helps reduce your blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration." Swimming is an excellent aerobic exercise, and a study of those who engage in it reports they have less tension, depression,anger, and confusion, and more vigor, than those who were not swimmers. Memory and intellectual functions are improved by a walk/jog program. Several researchers have discovered that during exercise we have an increase in alpha waves. These are the brain waves that are associated with a relaxed, meditation-like state. They feel this helps to explain how exercise reduces anxiety and depression. So next time you feel "blue", depressed, or under stress, you may find relief by a vigorous walk in the fresh air. Physiologists have found also that when you exercise, your bone marrow makes red cells at a faster rate. This is significant, because red blood cells carry fresh oxygen to your brain and all parts of your body. Another good thing that exercise does is to speed up the flow of lymph, removing the waste products that otherwise would make you feel sluggish. Not only running or jogging, but other simple exercises can help you feel better. If you sit at your work, you may find that alternate shrugging and relaxing of your shoulders several times is an easy way to relieve tension, pain and headaches. Getting up and walking around at least once every hour is important to prevent blood clots. Next time you're uptight, try taking a brisk walk. Instead of becoming more tired and tense, you will find yourself unwinding. Nathan Pritikan explained to his patients that inactive muscles build up strong electrical charges that keep one awake, but with exercise " you can discharge those voltages, and muscles relax. Dissipating those electrical charges in the muscles is precisely what tranquilizers do." Just think how much better a brisk walk is for you than are tranquilizers with all their side effects. We need to balance our emotions with motion... Scientists now readily agree that there is a much closer relationship between your mind and your body than most of us realize. When either is affected, the other is also. It is interesting to know that the same amount of exercise that helps your heart also helps your brain. Whether you choose to run, jog, walk, bike, swim, or just work in the garden, you will find enjoyable activity an excellent Lifesaver. |
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