A recent study published on May 8, 2014, in Diabetologia found that, in patients
with insulin resistance, brief periods of high-intensity exercise before
breakfast, lunch and dinner improved blood sugar control for the day of
exercise and the day after, compared to one prolonged period of moderate
exercise before dinner.
Researchers believe that these brief exercise periods - also known as "exercise snacks" -
can help prevent diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases (heart disease and
conditions that affect the body's metabolism).
Exercise snacking involves six, one-minute periods of
walking on an incline treadmill at near maximum heart rate (90% heart rate) 30
minutes before breakfast, lunch and dinner. The study findings showed that exercise snacking
decreased the participants' blood sugar levels by 13 percent at three hours
after breakfast and by 17 percent at three hours after dinner compared to a single
session of 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (in which the heart
reached 60% of its maximum beating rate). On the day of exercise, exercise
snacking lowered post-meal blood sugar levels by 12 percent.
The idea of breaking up exercise makes sense. Research has shown that even people who meet
the recommended daily 30 minutes of moderate physical activity still spend most
of the remaining minutes of the day relatively inactive. And intense activity,
especially before meals, may be the key to kicking the body’s fat- and
sugar-burning mechanisms into functioning at their best.
What a genius idea to make your snack “exercise.” It’ll boost your metabolism, curb your hunger
and give you energy throughout the day.
So, not only is exercise great for your heart and muscles,
it is also wonderful for your pancreas!
Fitness for Health creates unique exercise programs based on
a person's individual fitness goals. Want to lose weight?
Interested in toning your body? Aspiring to increase your metabolism?
No problem! Whether you are a young child or a child at heart, Fitness
for Health can you help you achieve your fitness goals. Visit www.FitnessForHealth.org to learn
about our exercise and sports programs.
No comments:
Post a Comment