May 2018 Monthly Newsletter

Being an active person has shown to contribute immensely to your health. Exercise can energize your mood, relieve stress, help you manage symptoms of illness and pain, and improve your overall sense of well-being. No matter your age or current physical condition, you can benefit from exercise!

Regular physical activity lowers your risk for a variety of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity. Inactivity often can cause adults to lose the ability to do things on their own and can lead to more hospitalizations, doctor visits, and use of medicine for illnesses.

As you grow older your metabolism naturally slows down and maintaining a healthy weight can be a challenge. Exercise helps increase the metabolism and builds muscle mass, helping to burn more calories.

Exercise often improves sleep, helping you fall asleep faster and deeper. Furthermore, endorphins produced by exercising can actually help you feel better and reduce feelings of sadness and depression. Being active and feeling strong naturally helps you feel more self-confident and sure of yourself. Exercise also benefits regular brain functions and can help keep the brain active, which can prevent memory loss, cognitive decline and dementia.

Regular exercise can help boost energy, maintain your independence, and manage symptoms of illness or pain. Exercise can even reverse some symptoms of aging; and not only is it good for your body, it is also good for your mind, mood, and memory. It is all about adding more movement and activity to your life, even in small ways.

Before you get started, you should consider your safety so before starting an exercise regimen, you may need to get medical clearance from your doctor, consider your health concerns, start slow, commit yourself to an exercise schedule that works for you, stay motivated by focusing on short-term goals, and learn to recognize problems if they arise.

As part of your e-newsletter you will find an article on one of our many benefits, Pet Care Savings which gives you up to 25% off on all vet services received in-network through Pet Assure®. For further assistance with this benefit, visit us at www.hccua.org.
You will also find a recipe from the Tasteofhome.com. Broccoli Slaw with Lemon Dressing can be a side dish to any meal. We would love feedback on any of the featured recipes and which have been your favorite.

Sincerely,
Kristine Eckardt, Director of Member Communications
HCCUA


Leave a Reply