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The Impact Of Physical Activity On The Gut Flora

Many people don’t like to exercise, but it has incredibly beneficial effects on the body.
Exercise improves sleep, mood, and physical fitness.

Scientists have now found that people with excellent cardiorespiratory fitness have healthier gut floras. In these individuals, their lungs and circulatory systems work well together to supply ample oxygen to the body, and they have a much more diverse gut flora. The explanation for this association is still unclear. What is clear is that people with good air exchange and an excellent resting pulse have more species of bacteria in their GI tract. The opposite is true of people who are sedentary.

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If you look at indigenous populations, a group that wouldn’t know much about being sedentary, their gut flora is particularly diverse. I believe their activity level helps explain their low rates of cancer and diabetes.

I believe a healthy, diverse gut flora comes out of an active lifestyle, where you have to work hard for your food. Good mental health is linked with diverse flora, which may explain why physically fit people often have better mental health than average. Conversely, it could also help explain why so many people who are sedentary have high levels of depression and anxiety.

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