Staying physical active is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. But there are numerous reasons why some people avoid exercise altogether. Chief among them is a lack of conviction. At times this is a result of over-rationalization. “I just saw on the news that so-and-so died. He was an avid runner. That just goes to show you that we’re all going to die anyway.” Another common excuse is the belief that exercise has to be complicated. Spend some time at a book store or watching infomercials late at night and you may get the impression that you need to buy a best-selling training manual, a trendy DVD or take a specialized course in order to “do it right”. The truth is that for the vast majority of people, getting healthier is as simple as moving around more. However, it never hurts to peer into the scientific literature from time-to-time to see what’s new in the world of exercise research. That’s where the real advancements are presented. My Healthy Monday tip of the week is to stay active while staying informed to get the most out of your work-out routine.
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No matter what area of medicine you study, you’re bound to find some degree of controversy or debate. Do you think exercise is good for cardiovascular health or improving mood? Much of the evidence supports that position, but some studies dispute that as well. How about eating fresh fruits and vegetables? That’s got to be healthy, right? A preponderance of the evidence points to that conclusion but, again, there are always findings to the contrary in scientific literature. It’s important to know that there are always opposing points of view. So a study with negative findings should not cause one to lose faith in a perfectly viable remedy. Read more »

Have you ever seen a group of people practicing the ancient art of Tai Chi? The first time I was exposed to it, I recall thinking that it seemed like a combination of slow motion martial arts and a rather stationary form of dance. It struck me as being beautiful, but also quite exotic. A kind secret ritual that I couldn’t possibly understand. Read more »