Many Solid Ways To Fit And Healthy

Aristotle helped define the standards of fitness 2,500 years ago when he said that a thing that suits its purpose is fit. The cardiovascular system, lungs, skeleton, muscles, endocrine system, and all the other components of our bodies function for our purpose, which is to live well.

Exercising helps us to be fit in many ways, each of which involves one or more of those systems.

The heart has to work harder than at rest when one performs increased physical activity. This increases the blood flow, fills tissues with fresh oxygen, and removes cellular waste products.

The lungs have to draw in extra oxygen to fill the tissues and help power the heart. The person also has to exhale at a faster rate. Exhalation removes carbon dioxide, a waste product of certain biochemical reactions, further improving the body's respiratory system.

Moderate exercise on a regular basis will raise HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol (also known as the "good" cholesterol.) HDL helps to regulate blood sugar levels and convert stored fat into sugars that provide energy. This process helps to prevent obesity, since that fat is being turned into a source of energy for the body to function.