Exercise improves more than your muscles

Exercise is great for the body, mind and spirit, but how does exercise improve health and help prevent disease? Researchers are looking at the body's molecular responses both during and after exercise and trying to understand exactly why exercise provides so many health benefits.

It is known that some molecules change during exercise, and others transmit the benefits to organs and tissues that are not directly involved during exercise.

Stress and being overweight are two things that can cause digestive issues. Regular exercise has been shown to improve digestion and prevent digestive issues. Exercise increases blood flow, stimulating intestinal activity, helping the food move through more quickly. Exercise does help relieve stress and eliminate or reduce digestive problems such as constipation, bloating and irritable bowel syndrome. It also decreases the risk of gallstones forming.

Additionally, exercise can promote healthy bacteria in the gut, which is essential to good health and overall well-being. Bacteria was once thought of as a bad thing, but these hundreds of different types of bacteria that are found in our gut play an active role in protecting our immune system, the body's natural defense that keeps us healthy. It also inhibits the growth of more harmful bacteria and helps to digest food and absorb essential nutrients.

Just like fingerprints, everyone's mix of gut bacteria is different. Genetics plays a role, but our lifestyle and diet have a strong influence over the long term. Gut bacteria has been linked to a variety of health problems such as diabetes, obesity, depression, autoimmune disorders and colon cancer. One study found that exercise enhanced the diversity of bacteria in the gut.

While any type of exercise is good for the body, recent research shows that the type of exercise chosen impacts the long-term effects that exercise has on the body. A study that compared the hormone and physiological responses before and after exercise of cardio or resistance training were found to be different. After exercise, human growth hormone levels were much higher in the resistance training group than the cardio group.

This was an important find because human growth hormone stimulates protein synthesis, tissue growth and bone mineralization, increases fat cell breakdown and regulates metabolic functions. It can be concluded that exercises that burn the same number of calories do not necessarily create the same long-term health outcomes.

Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. It improves heart health, muscular fitness and bone health as well as supports a healthy weight. It can help improve inflammatory markers for those who carry excess weight, which may help reduce cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Regardless of your age or health status, it is never too late to start exercising.

Missy Corrigan is executive of community health for Sumter Family YMCA. She can be reached at mcorrigan@ymcasumter.org or (803) 773-1404.