Office Hours

Mon-Thurs, 9am-8pm
Fri, 9am-6pm
Sat, 9am-5pm

315 W Patrick St.,
Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 620-1414
contactus@hhamd.com

Join Our Mailing List Email:

Like us on Facebook Follow us on TwitterSubscribe on our YouTube Recommend our LinkedInRead our Blog



The Fountain of Youth - Exercise and Nutrition in Frederick

By Samantha Neier, Nutrition Counselor at Holistic Health Associates

acupuncture, frederick, md, longevity

A lot of us begin the New Year by making a resolution to exercise and lose weight. We start the year with great intentions, but then quickly relapse into old habits. Here are a few reasons to keep you focused and dedicated on making your exercise and wellness resolutions a reality.

Exercise may be the closest thing to the fountain of youth. Not only does regular activity strengthen your muscles and improve heart and lung function, but it can also reduce your risk of major diseases, stimulate the growth of new brain cells, and even add years to your life. Studies show just 30 minutes of physical activity on most days is all that's required to reap big benefits.

Research suggests that workouts may do the following:
  1. Keep you young. Workouts such as brisk walking or cycling boost the amount of oxygen consumed during exercise. Improving your aerobic capacity by just 15 to 25 percent would be like shaving 10 to 20 years off your age.
  2. Reduce infections. Moderate workouts temporarily revup the immune system by increasing the aggressiveness or capacity of immune cells. That may explain why people who exercise catch fewer colds.
  3. Prevent heart attacks. Not only does exercise raise "good" HDL cholesterol and lower blood pressure, but new research shows it reduces arterial inflammation, another risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
  4. Ease asthma. New evidence shows that upperbody and breathing exercises can reduce the need to use an inhaler in mild cases of asthma.
  5. Control blood sugar. Exercise helps maintain a healthy bloodsugar level by increasing the cells' sensitivity to insulin and by controlling weight.
  6. Protect against cancer. Exercise may reduce the risk of coloncancer by speeding waste through the gut and lowering the insulin level.
  7. Combat stress. Regular aerobic exercise lowers levels of stress hormones. For many people, exercise helps relieve depression as effectively as antidepressant medication.
  8. Relieve hot flashes. Increasing fitness by walking or practicing yoga enhances mood and reduces some menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats.
  9. Protect men's health. Pelvic exercises help prevent erectile dysfunction and possibly benign prostate enlargement, a common cause of urinary problems.
Big changes do not require big leaps. Permanent change is more likely to happen gradually than through one
big restrictive plan. Allow yourself to climb the ladder one rung at a time.



Samantha Neier is a health coach, yogi, runner, and public speaker dedicated to improving the health and happiness of her clients. She studied Sports Coaching in Melbourne, Australia (Deaken University) and Health Coaching at Manhattan, New York (Institute for Integrative Nutrition) where she was trained in various dietary theories -- combining traditional philosophies with modern concepts. She may be contacted at Acupuncture Frederick MD or (301) 6201414.