Exercise benefits ‘last days’

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WE ALL know exercise offers multiple benefits.  From improving muscle tone, heart health, lung capacity, flexibility, and aiding weight loss, there are very few health concerns exercise cannot assist.
And while it can sometimes feel difficult to fit exercise in- especially as the days become shorter and cooler- it seems scientists have now found a new incentive sure to motivate even the most exercise-averse.
One study has found that exercising, “semi-intensely” on one day can, “reap benefits that last for days,” meaning you can enjoy a relatively relaxed weekend following just one bout of physical activity on a Friday.
This news bodes well for anyone concerned a few days’ rest over the Christmas period will throw off their good work over the rest of the year.
Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern conducted studies on rats which showed their metabolism was boosted for 48 hours after exercise.  Results also showed blood sugar levels and appetite remained stable after activity.
Metabolism dictates the rate at which a person burns calories, and in turn has a huge impact on weight gain or loss. This latest research found a single bout of exercise boosted brain activity associated with reduced appetite, lower blood sugar and greater calorie burning, at the same time as reducing activity linked to hunger and lower metabolisms.
In the study, rats carried out three 20-minute treadmill runs before being tested.  Researchers said they believe the benefits discovered may last longer the more a person trains. Dr Kevin Williams, who led the study, claimed the results may explain: “Why many people don’t feel hungry after exercise.”

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