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The Importance of Health and Fitness

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Health and Fitness

It has long been established in the world of medicine that physical fitness directly impacts overall health in people. In fact, it has only been in recent years that scientists and physicians are taking the research to the next level and discovering exactly how greatly fitness effects health (President's Council, 2012). With more and more individuals living a sedentary lifestyle and minimizing their physical activity, it has become apparent that fitness is not only useful for health, but essential to maintaining good health and a long life. Simply put, physical fitness and overall health are directly related. Physical fitness benefits the brain, keeps the body strong, and boosts the immune system to prevent and shorten illness. Physical fitness directly benefits the overall health and longevity of the brain. The brain is a living organ in the body and requires healthy, oxygen-filled blood in order to thrive (The Human Brain). According to studies, even the simple act of aerobic walking is highly beneficial for the brain, and an exercise that most anyone can accomplish. In a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (2012), it was found that walking regularly not only improved senior citizen's overall memory skills, but also decreased the risk of stroke by 57 percent (Gill). These benefits were accomplished by walking as little as 20 minutes each day. Another study published in the Journals of Gerontology (2002) found that proof of the

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