Unless you've been living under a rock for most of your life, you have likely heard of the importance of exercise and remaining as active as possible. This is because so many illnesses and ailments can be linked to things like obesity and stagnation. The body was designed to move and run and jump. When we live sedentary lifestyles without making it a point to get some exercise, our health can suffer. In a new study conducted by California State University of San Diego, it was found that just 20 minutes of moderate exercise can be a key factor in...

People suffering from depression are looking to yoga as a complement to traditional therapies to lessen symptoms of depression, says a study presented in July at the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. The research focused on the acceptability and antidepressant effects of hatha yoga - the branch of yoga that emphasizes physical exercises along with meditative and breathing exercises to enhance well-being. In the study, 23 male veterans participated in twice-weekly yoga classes for eight weeks. On a one-to-10 scale, the average enjoyment rating for the yoga classes was 9.4. All participants said they would recommend the...

We all know how exercise can help in many ways - including an increased possibility of having a longer life than those who do not break a sweat at least once a week. However, some may offer excuses as to why they are not able to exercise regularly. Some may say they are too busy with work or whatever personal tasks they have, while some may not be able to exercise due to health and medical reasons.  On the other hand, a recent study revealed that if you want to live longer, doing high-intensity workouts every other day or running...

A new study suggests - for the first time in women over age 70 - that working up a sweat can reduce the influence ones genes have on obesity. Our sample, which included older women, is the first to show that in the 70-to-79-year-old age group, exercise can mitigate the genetic effects of obesity, says the studys lead author Heather Ochs-Balcom, associate professor of epidemiology and environmental health in the University at Buffalos School of Public Health and Health Professions. The message here is that your genetic risk for obesity is not wholly deterministic. The choices we make in our...

A recent study conducted by University of Buffalo revealed a significant reduction in death risk among women over 65 who regularly engaged in light physical activity. In other words, simply doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, folding the laundry and other household chores can help prolong your life. According to the study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, a majority of the 6,000 white, African-American, and Hispanic female respondents aged 63 to 99 years old had a 12 percent lower risk of death by doing light physical activities, including regular household chores.  On the other hand, a...

By analyzing reported physical activity levels over time in more than 11,000 American adults, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers conclude that increasing physical activity to recommended levels over as few as six years in middle age is associated with a significantly decreased risk of heart failure. This condition affects an estimated five million to six million Americans. The same analysis found that as little as six years without physical activity in middle age was linked to an increased risk of the disorder.  Unlike heart attack, in which heart muscle dies, heart failure is marked by a long-term, chronic inability of the...

While it's normal for many people to be stuck at their desks for hours upon hours during the day, this trend isn't good for body composition or health. In fact, it has been shown that individuals who lead more sedentary lifestyles that arent physically active are more prone to being overweight and having other health risks. A study that was conducted in Europe may have found a feasible and easy antidote to this problem. The study examined if the simple act of standing is conducive to weight loss and improved health. The study first reviewed many prior studies with data...

Recovering from any type of injury can take a lot of time, patience and painstaking steps. From research that was conducted in Sweden, it was found that individuals who suffer from some type of muscle inflammation injury do much better in their recovery when they implement endurance training. Depending on the type of muscular ailment and how it presents itself, it could be the cause of an injury, infection or chronic disease. Either way, the inflammation that is experienced can be pretty terrible. Getting someone back in the saddle and towards a place where they can feel comfortable working out...

It's been long argued and endlessly proven that exercise and staying active is one of the most imperative choices we can make for ourselves and our physical health. New research is showing that the specific act of running actually helps to burn fat that can accumulate in your bone marrow. Bone health is exceedingly important and one of the ways to ensure your bones are getting the proper care and nutrients is to be mindful of overall body fat composition. The more fat in the bone marrow, the more susceptible you may be to certain bone health red flags. Researchers...

Staying active is so imperative to overall health, so much so that many healthy living spaces and medical establishments continually vocalize how vital it is. For this reason, it isn't surprising that more data is being released regarding how having a desk job and living a mostly sedentary lifestyle can be catastrophic for your waistline and your health. Those who typically have less risk factors for serious health conditions such as heart disease tend to walk at least seven miles per day or spend upwards of seven hours on their feet. The correlation here is that how you use and...

Written By Kevin Kerfoot / Reviewed By Ray Spotts  Can a single minute of exercise each day lead to better bone health in women? Yes. Scientists from the University of Exeter and the University of Leicester found those who did "brief bursts" of high-intensity, weight-bearing activity equivalent to a medium-paced run for pre-menopausal women, or a slow jog for post-menopausal women, had better bone health.  Using data from UK Biobank, the researchers found that women who on average did 60 to 120 seconds of high-intensity, weight-bearing activity per day had four percent better bone health than those who did less...

The importance of being and remaining active over the course of your life is beneficial in many different ways. One of the foremost concerns often expressed is the lack of time some have to get the amount of exercise in that they would like. Some are under the preconceived notion that, in order to have a meaningful, good workout, it must be calculated and overly strenuous. This is not the case. Researchers in Copenhagen wanted to inquire if riding a bike to work could be considered as effective as any other type of leisure time exercise. Bike riding to work...

Several recent reports and studies have shed light on the positive health benefits of yoga. Interestingly though, there have also been a few reports detailing some down sides as well. Heart disease patients who practice yoga in addition to aerobic exercise saw twice the reduction in blood pressure, body mass index and cholesterol levels when compared to patients who practiced either Indian yoga - a combination of whole exercise of body, mind and soul, and a common practice throughout India - or aerobic exercise alone, according to research presented recently at the 8th Emirates Cardiac Society Congress in collaboration with...

Ensuring that you are getting the necessary amounts of exercise can sometimes seem difficult. Especially if you are leading a very busy life. Remaining active is imperative and some simply felt that they don't have the time to hit the gym as they would like. There is a solution to this issue as researchers have found that stair climbing is a great way to maintain heart health and boost overall fitness. This is a great option as stairs are everywhere and can be used at any time. Having no time or zero access to a gym is no longer a...