Exercise has a positive influence on health. It reduces the risk of obesity and osteoporosis, it keeps the muscles and joints flexible, it reduces medication use for type 2 diabetes and it is good for the memory. People who exercise a lot have a lower risk of dementia. The immune system also becomes stronger, which ensures better resistance. In addition, exercise ensures better blood circulation. Exercise is also good for people who already have health problems. The complaints often decrease when you exercise more.

Exercise has a positive effect on your health

Regular, moderately intensive exercise improves endurance and body weight, increases muscle strength and provides a good feeling. But it is also important for people with health problems because exercise strengthens the immune system. This reduces the complaints.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is bone decalcification. The dense structure of the bones decreases due to the loss of calcium, collagen and other proteins. This is often accompanied by a decrease in muscle strength. The bones become brittle and therefore break easily and the reduction in muscle strength increases the risk of missteps and falls. Cells do produce new bone, especially when pressure is exerted on them.

Exercise in osteoporosis

Because the bones do produce new cells, it is important to exercise sufficiently. The most suitable sports are: running, tennis, walking, golf, fitness and skating, because your own weight is carried. More bone is produced when the bones are subjected to heavier and faster loads. It is also good to exercise for people who already have osteoporosis. Exercise increases bone mass and can slow down the brittleness of the bones.

Obesity and cancer

Overweight people have a greater chance of developing various types of cancer such as breast cancer, (after menopause) colon cancer, uterine, esophageal and kidney cancer. The risk of pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and gallbladder cancer is probably also greater. According to researchers, the combination of insufficient exercise, unhealthy diet and obesity causes five to fifteen percent of all cancer cases.

Exercise is important because

• Female sex hormones play an important role in the development of breast cancer and exercise keeps hormone levels in the blood at a healthy level. Women who exercise sufficiently have a 20 to 40 percent lower risk of breast cancer compared to women who do not exercise.
• It can reduce the risk of colon cancer by up to about 40 percent. This is probably because exercise accelerates digestion, which means that harmful substances come into contact with the lining of the intestine for less time. In addition, exercise strengthens the immune system, which results in better resistance.

The memory

Exercise ensures better blood circulation in the body. It stimulates the production of new blood vessels and brain cells in the front part of the brain. The effect of exercise is especially noticeable in the storage of memories and cognitive functions such as inhibition, taking initiative, decision-making, planning and social behavior. In addition, it improves mood and learning ability. People who exercise a lot have a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Exercise is also good for people who already have memory problems. Memory improves after a longer period (months) with sufficient exercise.

Type 2 diabetes

With type 2 diabetes, the body can no longer maintain blood sugar levels, causing it to become too high. The body no longer responds well to the hormone insulin. Insulin transports sugar from the blood to the muscles. Exercise makes the muscles more sensitive to this hormone, so less of it is needed. People who exercise sufficiently can often get by with fewer medications. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by exercising sufficiently.

Exercise is good because

• Blood sugar levels drop because sugar (glucose) is more easily removed from the blood.
• It speeds up the metabolism.
• Fats are burned to prevent or reduce obesity.

The muscles and joints

Joints connect the bone parts to each other, allowing them to move. The joint capsule surrounds the joints. This is tight connective tissue that is lined with mucous membrane on the inside. The secretion of tough synovial fluid allows the joints to move smoothly and prevents wear and tear on the bones. Movement ensures that the joints remain flexible. The muscles are also needed to move properly. They provide strength around the joint and absorb shocks. If you strengthen the muscles, the body remains flexible and the risk of falling is reduced.