Move, to chase the cold virus away

According to a recent study done in the US, exercise is your best defence against a cold. Plus, four more reasons getting off the couch is the best thing you could do for your health

Exercise keeps weight in control, blood pressure in check, and is good for the heart. But aside from these benefits, there are other scientifically proven reasons exercise is beneficial not just for your physical, but your mental well-being as well. The best part? You need to exercise for a minimum of 20 minutes at least four times a week. Keep in mind that the activity should be intensive enough to make you break into a sweat.



You halve your chances of catching a cold
A recent US-based study found that people who were physically active reduced their chances of catching the cold virus by almost 50%.

And when they did catch a cold, their symptoms were less severe. According to lead researcher Dr David Nieman, Appalachian State University, North Carolina, exercise creates a temporary rise in immune system cells, which in turn attack foreign invaders. This results in an immune boost to the system and manages to keep colds at bay.

You can safeguard yourself against Parkinson's disease
According to a study done at the Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, a basic exercise programme sustained over a period of time helped slow the progression of Parkinson's disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. In fact, if started early enough, exercise can also prevent the onset of the disease. Exercise helps generate new brain cells, even in the aging brain.

You get a shot at 'happy'
Regular physical activity is a cure for depression and works like a mood enhancer: Experts have found that exercise triggers certain chemicals in the brain, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and other endorphins that work as natural antidepressants.

You might get to make more money
No kidding! Exercise makes you more productive and work harder, which in turn results in rewards. According to a study on workplace productivity, almost 80% employees felt that it was exercise that made them more productive at work and 75% felt that exercise made them more relaxed and increased their ability to concentrate.

You lead a longer, healthier life
Research conducted at the University of California in Los Angeles, studied 792 dialysis or kidney patients over five years, trying to find the correlation between the percentage of lean and fat body mass and survival rates.
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Patients with the largest mid-arm muscles scored higher on a mental health test and lived longer compared to those with the smallest mid-arm muscles. The results suggest that dialysis patients (and others) may benefit from pumping iron or other exercises that increase their lean body mass.