The Key to Health
Our body and mind love to move. Research shows that physical activity holds the key to a healthy and happy life.
- הידברות
- פורסם ט"ז חשון התשע"ד
#VALUE!
Things you didn't know about physical activity:
1. Physical activity is linked with mental health and aids psychological well-being, even capable of curing depression. In Dr. David Servan-Schreiber's book, he reviews all the healing methods found effective in treating depression and anxiety. He provides evidence that even moderate walking three to four times a week can significantly enhance mood.
2. Physical activity has a significant impact on brain function. Exercise improves the heart's ability to pump blood more efficiently, thus increasing the blood's capacity to carry oxygen. Physical activity beneficially affects memory, organizational skills, and the execution of complex tasks, thereby slowing down age-related decline. Additionally, leisure-time activities involving physical exertion protect against Alzheimer's. One study found that people with little leisure activity between ages 20-60 were 3.8 times more at risk for developing Alzheimer's! Walking is particularly effective at increasing blood flow, delivering more oxygen and sugar to the brain, providing a "mental cleanse" and allowing clearer thinking. Walking also improves memory and other mental abilities such as learning, concentration, and abstract reasoning. The risk of a stroke is reduced by 57% in people who walk even just twenty minutes a day. A study on women who walk regularly showed they are less prone to memory loss and other declines in cognitive abilities. Every kilometer walked per week reduced cognitive decline by 13%! Thus, every bit of activity benefits the brain. In the most active group of women, a 40% reduction in cognitive decline was observed, but even those who walked only half a kilometer a week experienced brain protection.
3. It's possible to engage in sports and enjoy its benefits even after years of inactivity. In one study, 214 people aged 60-75 who had not been physically active for decades participated. An overall improvement of just 5-7% in their physical fitness led to a 15% improvement in mental tests! The conclusion was that aerobic exercises indeed enhance mental capacity, even at an older age.
4. The main challenge is starting, but the body adapts, making it enjoyable. Any physical activity generates synapses that help maintain regularity in activity. The challenge is to start because many of us have underdeveloped sports synapses, but repeating the activity consistently for about a month is enough to strengthen them. Later, these synapses motivate us to leave the house for gym sessions or other sports, giving us a genuine sense of well-being. The benefits of physical activity increase as frequency, duration, or intensity rises. For personalized guidance on the suitable amount of activity, consult your family doctor or someone familiar with your health closely.
The article is sponsored by Extra Gym, the fitness center in Elad, opened to provide broad solutions as mentioned in the article since physical activity is key to a healthy life. The gym operates at separate times for observant communities. We would be happy to introduce you to our professional consultants for personalized advice. For more details: 054-5615359 (Hagit/ Hila).
