Exercise & health benefits during COVID-19

Getting enough exercise and eating healthy are vital steps in creating a healthy mind and body. To prevent illness, disease and further aging, fueling your body with whole, anti-inflammatory foods is essential. Exercise has also been proven to boost the immune system, relieve stress and anxiety and extend one’s lifespan.

Throughout the pandemic, many of us have seen a massive lifestyle change. Your job might be different, your gym is probably closed, and you may be stressed about money. Or, you may just be feeling overwhelmed mentally with everything happening in the world. It is easy to sink into a routine of never leaving the couch, and always grabbing the quickest junk food to snack on. These mindless decisions can lead to a higher risk of contracting the virus by decreasing your immune health.

Living a physically active lifestyle, along with eating whole, unprocessed foods is a recipe for health and immunity against the virus. This lifestyle change can reduce high blood pressure, help manage weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Not only does exercise improve physical health, it is also very beneficial for mental health, and reducing the risk of depression and cognitive decline. The CDC recommends just 30 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity per day.

Throughout COVID-19, the opportunities to be physically active seem to be more restricted, but this time is critical to be moving more and sitting less. In the state of Washington, we are fortunate enough to live in a place with a multitude of opportunities to get outdoors. There are plenty of hikes, biking and walking trails, and lakes to kayak or paddleboard on during the summer.

Click here for Active Living tips from the Washington State Department of Health.

Click here for Q and A's from WHO regarding being active during COVID-19