General Wellness

Hello! Dr. Troy here! First of all—how are you doing? No, really. How are you?It would be an understatement to say that we are accustomed to enjoying the freedom and safety that comes with being an American. There’s so much uncertainty surrounding the daily developments of COVID-19, but this new environment also has a lot of us feeling like we’re losing our freedom. We’re afraid for our health and the health of those we love, but we’re also afraid of losing our lives as we know them. The constant barrage of news and rising numbers can create a cycle of worry and anxiety that directly impacts our health—even down to our gut. Fear can drive us to turn within and cause us to shut down, perpetuating feelings of isolation and helplessness. It can also lead us to return to unhealthy habits as a result of disrupted routines or in an effort to find comfort. All of this impacts our gut health and has a DIRECT impact on digestive an autoimmune symptoms.

Last week, we talked about the many health benefits of exercise and I offered a few tips for overcoming barriers to adding some more movement into your day.While these tips are all great ideas for committing to an exercise program, I know first-hand that those suffering from autoimmune disease or chronic digestive issues often experience even more complex barriers to getting enough exercise to support good health. 

The health benefits of regular exercise are quite plentiful and well-known.Increasing muscle mass through exercise increases metabolism, which makes maintaining a healthy weight easier to maintain.  Regular exercise also helps increase bone density to help prevent or even reverse osteoporosis.Physical activity helps regulate a variety of essential hormones, including cortisol (stress/sleep), insulin (blood sugar), leptin & ghrelin (hunger), and melatonin (sleep).  It improves both cardio-vascular, joint health, muscle health, and can be an excellent mood booster due to the release of several neurotransmitters.