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Science & The Spirit
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SITTING STATISTICS
Health Helps Part 17
By Dane and Vicki Griffin
Many Americans—including children and
teens—are guilty of staging perpetual sit-ins. A study of
10,000 adults revealed that more than half got very little
exercise is estimated to cause 250,000 deaths each year, as well
as much misery and pain.
Leisure hours that used to be spent doing
chores, gardening, climbing trees, hiking, and swimming are too
often spent in front of the TV, playing video games, cruising in
cars, or surfing the Internet. In spite of all these easy
activities, children and youth are more stressed and unhappy
than ever. Even worse, there has been an enormous increase in
the number of children and teens developing Type 2 diabetes, a
disease that use to be found mainly in adults. Not surprisingly,
there is also more obesity than ever before among children and
teens.
Sit down, feel down
Those who choose the "couch potato"
life can expect more than a body like Mr. Potato Head.
Inactivity has been shown to go along with higher levels of
depression, anxiety, stress, hostility, confusion, and
fatigue.
On the other hand, those who exercise regularly
are rewarded with better health, happier moods, clearer
thinking, higher self-esteem, and even more creativity! A single
bout of exercise has been shown to significantly reduce tension,
depression, anger, and confusion in people of all ages, both
make and female.
Vigorous, not violent
What is the best form of exercise? Try something
vigorous but not violent; cooperative but not competitive. Brisk
walking is one of the best forms of exercise. Hiking, bicycling,
swimming, canoeing, gardening, jumping on a trampoline, even
strenuous chores like splitting wood—all are good choices for
the body and mind. Stationary exercise machines—or a good
flight of stairs—can provide healthy indoor exercise in bad
weather.
Too much of a good thing
A reasonable amount of endurance exercise is
good for the immune system, bone density, heart health, and
lifespan. however, too much high-impact, violent exercise can
actually stress the body, making it less resistant to infections
and cancer. High impact aerobics can cause not only bone,
muscle, and tendon injuries, but also permanent hearing
impairment die to the loud, jarring music often associated with
it.
Competition: everyone loses
Although competitive sports may offer good
exercise, there's a down side. high levels of competition are
linked to high levels of stress and depression. In fact, such
activities as karate and ice hockey have been associated with
elevated blood pressure, anger, and hostility. An interesting
study showed that children who engage in high contact sports
such as football tend to develop moral standards more slowly and
to be more aggressive off the playing field. Remember, we are
talking about organized competitive sports, not a friendly
family game of ball, tag, or hide-and-seek.
Many studies have shown that children who play
in cooperative ways feel better about themselves and accomplish
more than those who compete with each other. To beat the
competition, try cooperative physical activities like hiking,
canoeing, riding bikes, building a tree house, or gardening.
Don't blast the brethren
Have you ever noticed the language sports
announcers use? Team A is out to beat, blast, demolish, crunch,
trounce, stomp, and otherwise, wipe out Team B. Even at the
"unprofessional" level, we often see hostility,
aggression, tears, name-calling, and depression. The Bible
teaches that all our activities should cultivate Christian
courtesy and cooperation because "all ye are brethren"
(Matthew 23:8). The Bible also tells us. "let nothing be
done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man on
his own things, but every man also on the things of
others." (Philippians 2:3,4).
When we follow this advice in our exercise
plans, we'll be winners!
Part 1
| 2 | 3 |
4
| 5 | 6
| 7
| 8 | 9 |
10
| 11 | 12
| 13 | 14
| 15 | 16 |
17
| 18 | 19
| 20
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