Exercise is Medicine

I am trying to figure out a way to get folks to understand why physicians are serious when they prescribe exercise as a form of medication. I find it very discouraging when I spend so much time explaining the importance of exercise to a newly diagnosed diabetic only to find out later that everything I said was ignored. This often happens with folks who claim they want to lose weight, but do only half of what I recommend and seem perplexed when the outcome is poor.
Here are a few facts about exercise that I want you to keep in mind:

1. It's free.
2. The side effect profile is low.
3. It can be done any time - summer, winter, fall, morning, noon, or night.
4. You can exercise three times a day or once a day and both are effective as long as you do it 4-5 times a week.
5. Modern medicine explains that it is good for almost all illnesses.
6. Exercise is far superior to any vitamin.
7. It can slow down the aging process and increase your energy level.
8. It will help you look better.
9. It will maintain your mental capacity.
10. It's a great way to pray and stay in touch with your higher sprit, meditate or simply have a long talk with a friend.

As one of my patients would say, “It ain’t gonna get no better than that.”
I am Dr. Thaddeus John Bell--- Closing the Gap in Health Care.

Bell Update Volume 2, Chapter 31
Copyright August 2007