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Exercise tones us, builds our muscles and protects our hearts. But Chris Williams says it also has the power to help the following:
Depression
Exercise releases endorphins, the body's "happy juice". Researchers at Tufts University in the US found that a weight-training programme helped mildly depressed people overcome their condition (14 out of 17 patients), if only temporarily. Many forward-thinking doctors are now prescribing both weight training and aerobic exercise to help the mildly depressed. People who are healthy, fit and active are more likely to be happy.
Low Sex Drive
Researchers hooked 24 men to catheters to see how a half-hour treadmill run affected their testosterone levels. (Ouch, don't try this at home.) Runners experienced (enjoyed!) a significant increase in their testosterone levels that lasted for some time after the run. As a suggestion, if your libido is a little low, include a 30-minute jog into your foreplay repertoire, or even better install a treadmill in your bedroom!
Stupidity
"Exercise lights up the brain", according to Dr Dharma Singh Khalsa, author of Brain Longevity and recent research shows a 20 to 30 per cent increase in mental function after strenuous activity. The possible reason is because of the increased flow of blood and memory chemicals in the brain.
Insomnia
A good night's sleep does wonders for the brain, says Dr Abby King of Stanford University School of Medicine in the US. Recent studies suggest that moderate-intensity exercise can help you sleep better. The greatest gain should be in slow-wave sleep, the deepest form of sleep. It is during this 'deep' sleep that the body releases hormones that act on the body at cellular level, much like a giant repair kit. So forget expensive night creams, just ski, sleep more deeply and produce your own internal anti-ageing lotion for free!
Chris Williams is an exercise physiologist and former Great Britain triathlete - check out his columns in www.Channelhealth.tv for more information.
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