Friday, August 25, 2006
Fitter, happier: exercise may be good for looks, but it's great for your health
A LOT OF PEOPLE jump on board the fitness movement for, shall we say, aesthetic reasons. Bigger biceps, tighter abs, firmer thighs. And that's perfectly fine. After all, the sport of bodybuilding is based on the relentless pursuit of a flawless physique.
What sometimes gets lost amid the clamor to look great naked, however, is the fact that working out has benefits that extend far beyond a beach-ready body. Just in the last couple months, still more research has emerged to support the rock-solid connection between the bodybuilding lifestyle and overall health. Here are just a few studies I came across through a great resource, the Reuters Health website (reutershealth.com).
* Working out extends your life. A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that senior citizens who exercise live much longer than those who don't. The study followed 3,206 65-plus men and women over a 12-year period and found that those who said they were physically active at least occasionally were 28% less likely to die within that period of time than those who said they got "practically no exercise at all." Even more striking: Those who worked out once a week were 40% less likely to die. The exact reason for this phenomenon is unknown, but some think exercise may have a "cardio-protective" effect for seniors, reducing their risk of cardiovascular disease, which is one of the leading causes of death in Western countries. Whatever the case may be, I think the results speak for themselves.
* Weight loss improves sex. Shedding pounds can work like a natural Viagra, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. A two-year study of 110 obese men with erectile dysfunction found that, of those who participated in an intensive weight-loss program, 31% regained normal sexual function. The men also showed improvements in several key health indicators, including blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In other words, trim waistlines are good for multiple reasons.
* Protein raises your endurance. Apparently, it pays not only to exercise like a bodybuilder but to drink like one as well. A study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that downing a sports drink containing carbohydrates and whey protein gives people greater endurance than using a drink that only contains carbs. Researchers studying 15 male cyclists found that when they gulped the protein drink every 15 minutes, they were able to pedal a stationary bike 29%-40% longer than they could when using the carb-only drink. They also showed fewer signs of exercise-induced muscle damage, leading researchers to believe the drink may aid protein synthesis and the repair of muscle fibers.
It's possible that extra calories in the protein drink played a role in increasing endurance, but the study's lead author, Dr. Michael J. Saunders, gives protein a ringing endorsement. Saunders himself is a competitive endurance athlete, and he now favors protein drinks when exercising.
Does all this research, not to mention thousands of similar studies, take away from the aesthetic benefits of lifting weights, doing cardio, eating a lean, high-protein diet and using quality supplements? Not one iota. But if you ever feel that your physical development isn't coming along as fast as you'd like, take heart. All your hard work isn't just improving your looks; it's making you stronger, healthier and happier, too.
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