We all know the obvious health benefits of exercise, but what about those hidden benefits? Fighting inflammation, for example. Though many people don’t realize it, inflammation levels are directly related to lifespan. Fortunately, you can keep inflammation at bay with a few simple lifestyle changes.
Effects Of Inflammation
Insulin is at the root of nearly all chronic diseases because it causes chronic inflammation, which speeds up the aging process. Studies have found that people who live to see 100 have the lowest levels of inflammation in their bodies.
What’s more, chronic inflammation also affects your ability to function normally and live independently as you age. So if too much inflammation has such an impact on quality of life, it only makes sense to fight it as best as possible.
Reducing Inflammation With Exercise
You don’t have to be a gym rat to improve inflammation levels. In fact, you may struggle with inflammation even if you work out an hour each night after sitting at a desk all day. That’s because chronic sitting (long periods of sitting with no physical activity in-between) is a risk factor for insulin resistance, which leads to high levels of inflammation.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the freedom to walk around at their convenience every day. No matter your circumstances, here’s what you can do to get active and decrease inflammation.
1. Move All Day
Sitting at a desk (or on a couch) for eight to ten hours a day is the quickest way to increase inflammation. If you have a job that requires that much sitting, take breaks at least every 50 minutes.
These breaks don’t have to be intense workouts. Standing up and stretching, then taking a brief walk around the office can get your blood flowing and help you stay healthy. Also, consider taking the stairs instead of the elevator, etc. Every small change counts.
2. Go for High Intensity
Of course, exercising regularly is also beneficial for reducing inflammation. When deciding which type of exercise to incorporate into your routine, make sure it’s high intensity. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is the most effective workout method for maximizing the benefits exercise offers. It also possesses numerous anti-inflammatory benefits that aren’t found in less intense workouts.
3. Recover between Workouts
Bouts of exercise often increase acute inflammation but decrease chronic inflammation (the bad kind) over the long-run. To make sure you don’t cause more harm than good, avoid overtraining. What does that mean? Basically, give your body time to recover between sessions.
Chronic inflammation is no joke. Reach out to the health experts at Matrix Age Management to learn more.
