People over 40 years of age who use aerobic exercise to prevent or control diabetes need not only regular but frequent exercise if they are to realize its potential benefits, according to a Mayo Clinic study. The study found that middle-aged and older people don't sustain the increased insulin sensitivity that aerobic exercise produces. Younger people, on the other hand, were found to maintain higher insulin sensitivity even four days after their last workout.
In all age groups, exercise increased peak oxygen uptake, muscle and protein and reduced abdominal fat and plasma triglycerides, according to the study.
Diabetes August, 2003;52(8):1888-96
Insulin is the key to the vast majority of chronic illness. Fortunately, it is the variable most easily influenced by healthy eating and exercise.
Exercise works by increasing the sensitivity of insulin receptors so the insulin that is present works much more effectively and your body doesn't need to produce as much.
Most people, especially doctors, tend to not appreciate how powerful exercise is. However, I believe it needs to be viewed like a drug--you have to be very careful with the dose. If the dose is not high enough, it will not work.
Just as I have said for some time now, it is important to pay your exercise debt if you are overweight. Working out three times a week just isn't enough to cut it for most of us who are older than 40 and not in shape.
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