In the previous chapter of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, Dr. Northrup gave a lengthy overview of the ways women can improve their health by improving the quality of their diets. In this chapter, she follows up with a discussion of the other half of the equation: exercise. I titled this blog “The Joy of Exercise” because, as Dr. Northrup notes, one of the reasons exercise is an obstacle for many of us – particularly women – is that we grew up with the notion of ‘no pain, no gain.’ Also, we often confuse ‘exercise’ with ‘athletics.’ As she points out, you don’t have to be athletic to exercise. And you can – and should – find activities that you enjoy doing; otherwise, you won’t keep doing them.The benefits of exercise are many and well-known by now: lower risk of cancer (including breast cancer) and heart disease; reduced stress and higher self-esteem; stronger bones (especially important for women); and a longer life expectancy. And, of course, weight control. By the way, I think it’s important to note that Dr. Northrup recommends combining aerobic exercise plus weight training, because people with more muscle mass have higher metabolic rates. That’s why many women who seem to eat relatively little still have trouble losing weight – they don’t have sufficient muscle mass.On the other hand, Dr. Northrup points out the danger of becoming too addicted to exercise. Her discussion of amenorrhea (loss of periods) and premature osteoporosis due to extreme exercise is a powerful caution. As with so many other aspects of healthy living, moderation is the key to success.
So do as Dr. Northrup suggests: enjoy the feeling of moving your body, and the feeling of health that will accompany it.
Dr.Ray
About DrRay
Dr. Ray Morales is national medical director for your Lumenos health plans. He has devoted much of his career to community health and improving the lives of diverse vulnerable populations, spending 17 years in private practice serving the Los Angeles community. A native of California, he attended Harvard University and earned his MD from the University of California, Irvine Medical School.