While there is a large body of evidence that suggests regular exercisers have less cardiovascular disease, lower blood pressure and other weight related benefits outlined in yesterday’s blog, a study published in the Nov. 6 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine found modest exercise, like walking everyday, changes the size and density of cholesterol carrying proteins in our bodies. Evidently  cholesterol circulates through the body by attaching to proteins. Cholesterol appears more likely to clog arteries when it is transported by small dense protein particles. The study revealed that regular exercise produces bigger transport proteins that reduce the potential risk of cholesterol even if the cholesterol level remains the same. It seems it is exercise’s ability to change the size and density of cholesterol- carrying protein that reduces risk.

See http://www.clinicians-choice.com/faqs16.php for more information.

Tomorrow: Dr. D. takes a fitness test.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 12:02 pm and is filed under Exercise Challenge. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.