Question

Answer only ONE of the questions below. In your own words.

1- The importance of physical activity, along with nutrition, is a key component of a healthy lifestyle. Find an article that studied the effects of physical activity on reducing the risk of a particular disease, or on improving one's health following a specific disease.

2- Proper nutrition plays a big role in improving athletic performance. Find an article that discusses specific nutritional needs for a particular type of athlete (ex. triathlete, gymnast, sumo wrestler...), as it relates to performance.

3- Several ergogenic aids are mentioned in this week's chapter. Select one (not necessarily from the book) and find an article that studied the pros and cons associated with that aid.

Answer 1

1. Physical activity and nutrition play a really significant role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Several studies were conducted and it has been proven beyond doubt that aerobic exercise is beneficial to anybody who wants to lead a disease-free life. Aerobic exercise has positive vascular effects, renal effects, cardiac effects, pulmonary effects, skeletal muscle effects, neurohormonal effects, etc. Several lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, cholesterol, heart disease, etc deserve special mention in this regard. Avoiding fatty junk food and including more fibrous nutritious food has its own benefits in maintaining a healthy body. This aspect when combined with regular physical activity offers double benefits for any individual who is interested in having a healthy body and healthy mind. There are many lifestyle diseases, which are silent killers and would attack anybody without any warnings. A sedentary lifestyle needs to be avoided and an exercise routine needs to be started and followed for mental and physical fitness. All the required nutrients should be included in the required amounts, i.e., a well-balanced diet should be given importance together with regular exercise. There are several biological mechanisms that link exercise with the prevention of heart failure.

An article that deserves to be mentioned here is "Exercise and Heart Disease; 10 ways exercise can reduce your risk" by American Council on Exercise.