Pillar of Wellness 2:
Physical activity (causative)
Physical activity is often thought of as exercise, however it includes general movement. The WHO defines physical activity as ‘any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure… including during leisure time, for transport to get to and from places, or as part of a person’s work’.
For beneficial physical activity, it is necessary to increase the heart rate above a resting state, which can be done with something as simple as walking or yoga, or more significant exercise including running, weight training or playing a sport.
The benefits of activity extend beyond the directly physical, including improvement in:
weight management;
blood glucose management and insulin sensitivity;
sleep;
relaxation;
cognitive function;
mental health;
removal of toxins (such as through the accelerated physical expulsion of waste products);
reduction of oxidative stress (such as by increasing glutathione production);
endocrinology (including release of endorphins, dopamine, serotonin and through hormone balance), and
inflammation.