Ashok Gupta explains how exercise strengthens immunity against viruses. Elderly women who walked regularly caught more than half as many colds as those who stretched, and endurance walkers cut infection risk by about fivefold. Exercise also halves how long you stay sick if you do get infected.
Questions this video answers
67 to 85 years old.
30 to 40 minutes per day, five days a week.
They more than halved the number of viruses contracted during that season.
About a factor of five (fivefold reduction).
It halves the number of days that they're sick.
Chapters
Let's briefly look at the science of movement now. Study after study as listed on the website shows that physical activity gives a huge boost to our immune system, and it also reduces your chances of getting viral infections. Remember, you might still get the virus, but with a stronger immune system, you're much more likely to overcome it quickly without symptoms or without any severe symptoms. And this could reduce the amount of time that you spread it to others. This is how we can do our part to reduce the contagious spread of this pandemic. Physical activity seems to increase the levels of antibodies in the mucus and in the saliva. These antibodies are in our nose and throat, making it less likely that the virus can progress to our lungs. Exercise also improves the flow of fluids through our lymphatic system, meaning that viruses, bacteria and toxins are fluid filtered and cleared from your body more effectively. In one of the studies listed below, elderly women aged 67 to 85 were recruited for a walking study. Half the group walked for 30 to 40 minutes for five days a week, and half the group spent the same amount of time just doing stretches. Amazingly, the walking group more than halved the number of viruses that they contracted during that season. And those who are conditioned, endurance walkers, they reduce their chances by a factor of five. So getting fit could reduce your chances of getting any virus by a factor of five. Amazing. So if you have elderly relatives or friends who are at risk of the virus, please do pass this information onto them, as it could really be the difference between life and death. And many other studies have shown similar results, including the fact that if people exercise and they do happen to get an infection, it halves the number of days that they're sick. Not only does physical activity benefit our immune system, it's also great for your brain health. It treats high blood pressure, it elevates our mood, and it improves our sleep. Sam.
