Exercise benefits Exercise Benefits Exercise does far more for you than keep you trim. In Exercise Power , we discussed some of the many ways exercise is good for you. So far, we've found that regular exercise can help prevent cancer and diabetes.
Exercise can also help fight stress and the harmful effects of stress on the body.
Colorado researchers found that animals under stress release a certain hormone that appears to weaken the immune system. Animals given regular exercise release less of this protein, even when stressed. So, in addition to keeping your body from reacting to stress, exercise may keep you from getting sick. Researchers in Scotland report that exercise is even more important for older people, allowing them to enjoy more years of a disability-free life. Just a couple of hours a week can help lower blood pressure and heart rate.