Did you know that regular exercise can help keep your immune system in good shape? Fitness enthusiasts have frequently reported that they experience less sickness than their sedentary peers. An American Council on Exercise study revealed that 61% of 700 recreational runners reported fewer colds since they began running, while only 4% felt they had experienced more. Many other studies have shown that regular moderate exercise on a “near-daily” basis aids in keeping the immune system strong.
More technically speaking, while exercising, your body increases the speed at which it removes waste products. Since your breathing rate increases, more bacteria and foreign particles are flushed from the lungs. The same is true when your body perspires during exercise. Bacteria is released from your body via sweat. Extra waste removal decreases your risk of illness simply because fewer infectious agents are present in your body.
Also there is a cumulative effect of exercise and the immune system. The more regularly you exercise the more often your body is flushing bacteria, the more efficient your body becomes at fighting infections.
Therefore, every time you hop on that treadmill, participate in a cycle class, or pop-in an exercise DVD, your immune system is getting a boost! That increases your chances of fighting off cold viruses over the long term. And that’s good news!!
Missy Vacala - Vital Fitness
