The information provided on the blog and the material linked are for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional with any questions or concerns.
Exercise can be an extremely effective way of reducing chronic inflammation. If you are experiencing digestive issues, fatigue, aches and pains, break outs or brain fog, chances are your body is inflamed. Too much inflammation can lead to a number of health concerns. Luckily for us, there are some pretty easy and inexpensive activities that reduce inflammation. Discussed in my last article, diet has a profound impact on inflammation but an even easier activity, exercise. Let’s discuss the wonderful benefits of exercise and reduced inflammation.
If you missed my last article, check out how to fight inflammation with these powerful foods.
ByInflammation
Inflammation is an interesting thing. Despite what many people believe, not all inflammation is bad. Inflammation is the way our body keeps us safe from outside threats like viruses, infection and even foreign objects like a splinter.
On the flip side, too much inflammation can become chronic and also pose a threat to our health. Chronic inflammation stems from stress, a poor diet, obesity, and excess alcohol intake, says Novant Health. If you are treating your body poorly, it will return the favor by fighting you right back as a defense mechanism.
Chronic inflammation can lead to a number of health conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, heart disease and stroke, IBD, diabetes, cancer, the list goes on and on, as reported by BuzzRx.
Exercise and Reduced Inflammation
20 minutes of exercise can have an anti-inflammatory effect on cells paired with a boost to the immune system report Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. Exercise does not have to be intense to see these benefits either. Getting the body moving, even something as simple as walking is going to decrease inflammation in the body.
Cycling
Aside from walking, cycling is an excellent way to get in your daily dose of movement. Cycling can improve exercise tolerance and nutrition, and alleviate inflammation reported in scientific journal Medicine.
Yoga
Now that we know stress is a huge cause of inflammation, yoga is a great way to wind down while getting in some physical activity. According to Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, yoga started as a holistic healing system in which the mental state of the individual practicing was critical for healing. Studies show that yoga is beneficial for anxiety, depression, stress management, immune function, auto-immune diseases and much more. All of which would benefit inflammation positively.
Walking
Walking has incredible benefits, plus it is accessible to practically everybody. Exercise does not have to be intense to see a decrease in inflammation. The American Institute for Cancer Research suggests just 30 minutes of walking a day, 5 times a week is all it takes to start improving health. Walking regularly can lower your risk for diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.
Get Moving!
No matter what type of physical movement you choose to do, anything is better than nothing.
Humans are meant to be moving. Our bodies actually require daily activity in order for them to function better and remain healthy says Herman Pontzer.
Get Healthy!
A combination of diet and exercise are going to have undeniable benefits on inflammation and overall health as a whole. I also encourage a plant-based diet to slow aging, increase athletic performance, and give you energy! Read more about plant-based eating and the benefits in these articles below.
This post contains affiliate links meaning I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. That being said, I only recommend products I love and trust.
