| Your energy levels will depend on several | | | | even just carrying the garbage can to the |
| factors, including genetics, nutrition, sleep | | | | curb, they're also carrying that excess |
| habits, and emotional stress. Some of these | | | | weight, making almost everything they do more |
| you have no control over But there is one | | | | exhausting.Better-conditioned muscles make |
| VERY important factor that you do have | | | | every task that much easier, regardless of |
| control over and that is your ability to take | | | | body weight. When you exercise, your ability |
| part in physical exercise.Need a source of | | | | to use muscle fibers is increased. So you |
| vast power and energy?Look no further than | | | | require less effort to perform any physical |
| your gym.The link between physical fitness | | | | task.A strong body also has a stronger immune |
| and energy is so strong, that doctors have | | | | system. Being sick drains us of energy, and |
| lately been prescribing exercise as treatment | | | | exercise, by boosting immunity, staves off |
| for chronic fatigue, depression, seasonal | | | | illness. Recent research has shed light on |
| affective disorder (SAD), and insomnia, for | | | | why the strong may get sick less often and |
| instance.If sufferers of the most stubborn | | | | recuperate faster when they do get sick: |
| kind of fatigue can be energized with | | | | exercise increases the activity of natural |
| exercise, imagine what can do for those of us | | | | killer cells in the bloodstream.* Less Stress |
| who experience ordinary, every-day fatigue.* | | | | *A great deal of research supports that |
| Feel Great At Mid-Afternoon *Your brain | | | | weight lifting is one of the most effective |
| thrives on oxygen. Blood transports oxygen to | | | | means of battling depression and stress. One |
| the brain, so the greater blood flow to the | | | | of the main fatiguing factors of depression |
| brain, the greater the oxygen supply the | | | | and stress is lack of sleep. In a recent |
| brain has. As you increase your heartbeat | | | | Stanford University study, formerly sedentary |
| with a vigorous workout, more blood surges | | | | insomniacs who began to exercise fell asleep |
| through the brain, more oxygen gets absorbed | | | | 15 minutes faster and were able to sleep an |
| by your brain cells, and you feel more | | | | hour longer than they had before becoming |
| mentally alert and energetic.Experts point | | | | active.* Boost Brain Fitness *To this point, |
| out another long-term cause-and-effect | | | | we've been talking about the benefit of |
| relationship between exercise and blood flow | | | | exercise on mental energy. But is it possible |
| to the brain: as you continue exercising, the | | | | that being in shape might translate to even |
| number of capillaries (small blood vessels | | | | greater mental benefits, such as increased |
| between your arteries and veins) throughout | | | | intelligence, creativity, memory, or |
| your body will grow. More blood flow through | | | | reasoning ability? It's very possible.Studies |
| your "pipes" means more oxygen will be | | | | show that both factors of mental stimulation |
| supplied where you need it.Regular exercise | | | | and exercise were contributing to the |
| also keeps the pipes clear and circulation | | | | increase of the brain's learning centers in |
| healthy by preventing atherosclerosis | | | | different ways. Mental stimulation results in |
| (buildup of plaque). Regular exercise can | | | | more synapses (the little gaps between brain |
| actually REVERSE atherosclerosis when | | | | nerve cells that enable them to communicate |
| combined with a healthy nutrition plan. When | | | | with one another), while exercise increases |
| you have atherosclerosis in check, your brain | | | | the number of capillaries in the cerebellum |
| is virtually guaranteed for the rest of your | | | | and cerebral cortex (two areas of the brain |
| life.Blood also carries glucose, the simple | | | | crucial to intelligence.)* Take a Walk |
| sugar that's the primary fuel source for your | | | | *Medical research results could hardly be |
| entire nervous system of which the brain is | | | | clearer: Taking a walk is one of the best |
| the command center. Glucose's production | | | | ways to take charge of your health. A study |
| starts the metabolism of carbohydrates. | | | | in the Journal of the American Medical |
| Various enzymes, plus your body's ability to | | | | Association (February 11, 1998) showed that |
| use glucose to produce ATP, the more | | | | walking briskly for half an hour just six |
| important energy chemical in the body, | | | | times a month cut the risk of premature death |
| control this production. When you exercise, | | | | in men and women by 44 percent. A study in |
| you increase the level of those enzymes and | | | | the New England Journal of Medicine (January |
| their activity.In other words, when you | | | | 8, 1997) reported that men 61 to 81 years old |
| exercise regularly, you boost your enzymes, | | | | sharply reduced their risk of death from all |
| resulting in more glucose, and your body is | | | | causes, including cancer and heart disease, |
| more efficient in using the glucose. You get | | | | by walking two miles a day. Other research |
| a larger supply of ATP, which helps fight off | | | | has shown similar results for women.Recent |
| the mid-afternoon energy drop-off.* Increase | | | | studies have concluded that moderate amounts |
| Metabolism *It's no secret that strength | | | | of exercise - including walking, jogging or |
| trainers are firmer and stronger than | | | | using a treadmill for one hour, four to five |
| sedentary folks. How could it be | | | | times a week - can turn back the aging clock |
| otherwise?Resistance exercise builds muscle, | | | | 30 years for middle aged men.Consistency is |
| pure and simple. The more muscle you have, | | | | probably the most important part of your |
| the higher your metabolism, and the more | | | | workout. The more committed you are to |
| calories you burn even at rest.So why does | | | | walking all or most days of the week, the |
| "strong and toned" equate to more energy?For | | | | healthier you'll be. Remember that short |
| starters, heavy people have to lug around | | | | walks are better then none at all. Health, |
| more weight all day long. When the overweight | | | | like life, is a journey. All you have to do |
| climbs a flight of stairs, do yard work, or | | | | is take the first step. |