I Knew It

It’s common knowledge that not exercising is bad. Even something as simple as going for a walk or a run once and a while can significantly increase your overall health. But the opposite may be just as bad.

It turns out, exercising too much can be worse for your heart than not exercising at all. Research shows that there is a link between exercise and atherosclerosis. This study is nothing to turn your nose up at either. It was conducted using 3,175 men and women, over the course of 25 years. It showed that white males who exceeded three times the guidelines for exercise were far more likely to end up with fat accumulating on their arteries by the time middle age set in.

The U.S. Department of Health recommends at least two and a half hours of a week of moderate exercise. Now, this doesn’t have to be strenuous. A few push-ups here and there, maybe a jog and you’re fine.

Cardiologist Dr Joel Kahn said that mixing up your routine is best when trying to avoid the pressure that exercise puts on your body.

‘There is a stress reaction to long distance and long duration exercise—your cortisol is up for a long time,’ says Khan. ‘It may be wise to build in daily stress reduction techniques, such as meditation, yoga—seven, eight hours of sleep.’

A healthy balance between being a bit lazy and slightly active should help, but everyone’s different.

Just don’t overdo it on these.