Much has been written, here and elsewhere, about the benefits of exercise. For those wanting a little review, Well has a nice round-up of what we've learned about fitness in the past year - and blogger Gretchen Reynolds opens with some rather encouraging words:
If all the Phys Ed columns published this year have a single message is that now is a fine time to own a body. The diverse exercise-related experiments published in 2011 and covered in this space each week suggest that it's possible to retain your cognitive powers, muscle mass, running speed and waistline, even as you age, and that a little exercise can go a long way in terms of physiological benefit. Recent, important science even tells us that coffee, chocolate and beer enhance exercise performance, which is fortunate, since I have no plans to give up any of those...
Previously: Is fitness level more important than body weight in boosting heart health, Study shows physically fit older adults have fewer age-related changes in their brains, Exercise may be effective in treating depression, Exercise may protect aging brain from memory loss following infection, injury, How physical activity influences health and Study shows how physical activity benefits seniors' hearts
