With the holiday season fast approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the excerpts from an AARP article written by Mike Zimmerman. I know---AARP...just read on!
*Did you say my being overweight is causing inflammation?
Yes, we did. " Fat, especially belly fat, is highly inflammatory tissue," says Dana DiRenzo, a rheumatologist and instructor of medicine at John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Everyday, our belly fat is actively creating and releasing inflammatory compounds with Bond-villain names such as interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha. it's why lifestyle factors such as not sleeping well can cause weight gain; it's not just calories, but about inflammation as well.
Remember, inflammation is a response to cell damage-and fat cells are the body's damsels in distress. They're bloated with triglycerides ( a substance similar to diesel fuel ) and as a result, they are fragile and can easily burst and die. When they do, they trigger an inflammatory response as the immune system sends white blood cells to clean up the spilled fuel.
Exercise (I call it Movement) is important: But exercise (movement) for some, is unpleasant and uncomfortable, but so is heart surgery. Which would you prefer? Ultimately, the anti-inflammatory benefits of exercise (movement) are well worth the temporary discomfort.
Even if you have physical limitations-bad knees, for example-some form of movement will most likely improve them.
To get started, DiRenzo suggests picking an activity you can do for five minutes a day. Next week, do it for seven minutes. It could be as simple as a brisk walk. "Yeah, you're gonna be sore," she says, "but this is a good sore. Build and build and you will start to feel better".
I know that the holidays are for us to enjoy, but keep in mind as the new year approaches, you want to bring it in feeling as healthy as you can.
2020 represents perfect vision. While none us are perfect, we can thrive to be the best we can in the years to come.
Get in some sort of Movement today. Start small and work your way up...a little goes a long way!