Exercises that can help prevent disease

It's no secret that maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help extend and better your quality of life. By exercising for the recommended 150 minutes every week, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing chronic diseases that might affect you in the future.

According to the CDC, regular exercise can help reduce your risk of developing chronic conditions such as type II diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. This is because exercise helps people lose weight, especially in the midsection. This type of fat comes with an increased risk of many chronic conditions.

To maintain a healthy weight and reduce your risk for developing diseases, remember to move in a way that increases your heart rate. Try incorporating some of these exercises into your routine:

• Squats: Squats are one of the best exercises you can do. They not only strengthen your leg muscles, core, and respiratory system, but they also provide you with the functional abilities you need as you age. Think about it: every time you sit down, what are you doing? Start by air squatting, and once you can reach proper depth with good form, start using weights to make squats an even greater challenge. Barbell squats (front or back), goblet squats, and dumbbell squats all work well.
• Running: Want to strengthen your legs, core, lats, and traps while sending your heart rate through the roof? Running is your answer. In fact, running may be one of the best ways to stave off the effects of chronic stress, which can lead to chronic conditions in the brain. Make no mistake: running is an all-time great exercise.
• Biking: One of the issues with running its effects on the body's joints. The harsh impact, especially on concrete and asphalt surfaces, can lead to various long-term ankle, knee, and hip injuries – especially if the person affected is not running with proper form. Biking is a great alternative when doctors deem running unwise. Like running, you can strengthen your legs while elevating your heart rate, and you can do it without the joint pain associated with running.
• Core work: While the exercises above certainly strengthen your core, none specifically target that area. And while abs are made in the kitchen, strengthening those muscles can assist in melting body fat. Everything from planks to leg lifts to crunches can help you get the stomach you've always desired.
• Deadlifts: Like squats, deadlifting is an essential, functional movement we need to be good at throughout our lives. Every time you bend down to pick something up, you are deadlifting. Doing so correctly – with a flat back and proper hamstring/glute activation – is one of the best ways to strengthen your entire body while also preparing yourself for the future.

Sinclair Broadcast Group is committed to our viewers' health and well-being, which is why we initiated Sinclair Cares. Every month we'll bring you information about the "Cause of the Month," including topical information, education, awareness, and prevention. September is Healthy Aging Month.