The importance of physical activity and how it can change the body, apart from the rudimentary concept of weight loss is something that has intrigued me recently. After reading a riveting article from the Harvard Medical School that talked about how exercise affects the body on a cellular scale, I knew I had to investigate this concept. The article starts out by talking about how the basic unit of life, the cell, is affected by exercise. As I learned in my Biology 1 Honors class in my freshman year of high school, the “Power House” of the cell is the Mitochondria, and its unique abilities can perform at a higher efficiency, in mobile individuals. This means that the efficiency in which the Mitochondria burns off remnants of fat is much higher in people who exercise, rather than individuals who are inactive. Experts conclude that if we continue to serve our Mitochondria with the necessary amount of daily activity, we can alleviate the chances of developing any illnesses related to age such as diabetes, and Parkinsons, just to name a few. Adding onto the effects that exercise has on the body, the article points out that the biochemistry of the body is also affected by exercise. Specifically, continual exercise can alter both insulin and cholesterol levels in the body leading to a lower risk of diabetes. Along with these effects, the cardiovascular system experiences a balance of both saturated and unsaturated fats upon exercise, which decreases the chances of developing any serious illness relating to this system. In addition to this, physically active individuals develop good heart health, as a result of the formation of the “healthy” amino acid profiles. Overall, apart from the effects of exercise that we see on the outside, there are other transformations that take place in our body’s chemistry, in response to physical activity. The discussion of the long-term impacts of exercise, and its numerous benefits piqued my interest in this subject. For example, one of the benefits of exercise is that it can lower blood pressure, leading to the disintegration of stress, and hypertension. Essentially, daily exercise can contribute a great effect on the circulatory system, resulting in the improvement of blood flow and pressure. Also, exercise can strengthen muscle, and down the road, it can preserve bone health and prevent any abnormalities. The article ends by stating that 30 minutes of moderate exercise is ample time in order to experience the beneficial effects, leading up to a healthy lifestyle. In all, there’s more to exercise and staying physically active than meets the eye. Physical activity can affect the body on a cellular level, interacting with the Mitochondria. Daily exercise can transform the body’s biochemistry, resulting in the equilibrium of the body’s natural chemistry. In conclusion, this critical discovery showed me that there is hope during unprecedented times, and that if we all open our realms and make discoveries, we can shape ourselves to become better people in our communities.
Arvin Akkiangady is currently a sophomore at Grimsley High School. He is an avid Chess player who competes in both state and national tournaments and is the current president of the Grimsley Chess Club. After devoting time towards academics and after-school activities, he socializes with friends (in a virtual setting!) and spends time with family.
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