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It’s spring and thanks to Daylight Savings time, it now stays light well into the evening. Why not use that extra hour of daylight to incorporate a brisk walk, jog, or set of tennis into your day? The research coming out on the benefits of physical exercise is getting harder to ignore.

Researchers have now determined that people who are more active actually live up to four years longer than those who are inactive. But here’s the quote that really got my attention. According to Oscar Franco, the study’s lead author, “Physical activity really does make a difference-- not only for how long you live but for how long you live a healthy life." In other words, exercise increases both the quality and the quantity of your life.

Of course, we’ve known for a long time that exercise can help you maintain your weight, prevent heart disease and lower your risk of cancer, particularly breast cancer. (See related article.) But exercise is not only about maintaining a fit body. It also helps keep your brain in shape. A recent study conducted at the Salk Institute in San Diego found that exercise can prevent the loss of brain-power as you age, and can actually promote the formation of new brain cells in the elderly.

So what are you waiting for? Exercise doesn’t have to mean long hours sweating in a gym (unless you like to do that). It can be whatever you find fun--dancing, biking, gardening, walking, active games, or sports. All that matters is that you put enough effort into it to get your heart beat up, and that you do it regularly.

If you aren’t currently exercising, start slowly and gradually increase the duration and intensity of your exertion. And if you have any sort of medical condition, check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program. But whatever you do, don’t let it stop you from getting started on the exercise-fueled road to a longer, healthier life.

For more information:
Exercise for Beginners from About.com

Exercise and Longevity

Exercise and Brain Function

Sources:
Franco OH, de Laet C, et al. Effects of physical activity on life expectancy with cardiovascular disease. Arch Intern Med. 2005 Nov 14;165(20):2355-60.Link to the abstract
van Praag H, Shubert T, Zhao C, Gage FH. Exercise enhances learning and hippocampal neurogenesis in aged mice. J Neurosci. 2005 Sep 21;25(38):8680-5. Link to the abstract.