Better health starts with a reasonable level of fitness

Fitness has many obvious benefits for the mind, body and soul. Among the most important is the fact that a healthy dose of regular exercise has been proven to actively prevent the onset of common diseases and ailments. There is almost an endless source of research that supports this sentiment that exercise and a good quality level of fitness can significantly improve a person’s quality of life.

Basically regular exercise is able to maintain a healthy weight, reduce the chances of developing chronic diseases and improves overall feelings of well-being. Common diseases that are preventable by regular exercise include heart disease, type II diabetes and stroke as it strengthens the heart muscle, lowers blood pressure and increases “good” cholesterol within the body to allow the organs to work more efficiently.

In fact, older people are now being encouraged to start a moderate exercise regime in order to stave off the development of diseases such as Alzheimers, arthritis, and osteoporosis. The key is to find small activities to incorporate into a daily routine, not to suddenly start overworking the body to a level it is not used to.

Recommended activities include lifting weights to improve cardiovascular and muscle tone in conjunction with low impact general movement such and swimming or walking. Low impact is especially important for any elderly exercisers as minimal jarring should be forced onto the joints.  It is also important to point out that a physician should be consulted before any exercise regime is commenced.

It is recommended that most individuals aim for around one hour per day of physical activity in order to maintain optimal health conditions and a general level of fitness.