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4 Reasons to Keep Going to the Gym

The latest outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has a lot of people asking themselves: should I keep going to the gym?

For most people, the answer to if they should keep going to the gym is an assured YES.

Going to the gym—or just exercising in general—is good for the immune system, can lower stress at a time where everyone is a little… stressed, and can provide a much-needed dose of social support and camaraderie (from a safe distance of one meter or three feet away, if need be).

This article highlights four reasons—backed up by evidence—that members should keep going to the gym, including:

  1. Gyms Are Clean and Safe
  2. Physical Activity and Exercise Can Help Boost Immune Function
  3. Exercise Lowers Stress
  4. Physical Activity is Good for Metabolic Health

1. Gyms Are Clean and Safe

Gyms thoroughly clean their facilities on a regular basis, and ask members to wipe down equipment after use. Over the past few months, many have enhanced their cleaning policies in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

Most experts agree that gyms pose no specific threat compared to other areas of public gatherings like churches, malls, or grocery stores.

Paul Sax, M.D., medical director of the division of infectious diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, told Time Magazine, “the gym is not a place that’s necessarily riskier than other communal areas. I wouldn’t say there’s anything particular about people sweating that makes them more contagious.”

Robert Glatter, M.D., an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told Yahoo Finance, “I would still go about your normal activities at this point. Just as you normally should—even before the arrival of coronavirus—always clean your hands thoroughly after using exercise equipment with hand gel or use bleach-based wipes. It’s also important to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth since this is how the virus gains entry into your body.”

“At this point, people should certainly keep exercising,” says Aubree Gordon, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, in a recent CNBC article.

Michael Knight, assistant professor of medicine at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Services, echoed similar sentiments to CNBC’s Make It. He said that he would still encourage his patients to “continue getting moderate amounts of physical activity to lower their overall risk.”

2. Physical Activity and Exercise Can Help Boost Immune Function

Several studies have linked physical activity to improvements in immune markers and immune health. An extensive review published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science outlined how acute bouts of exercise—less than 60 minutes—enhanced the circulation of immunoglobins, natural killer (NK) cells, T cells, and other immune cells that play critical roles in the body’s defense against pathogens, and can help reduce inflammation.

An analysis of randomized controlled trials conducted as part of that review found that people assigned to long-term moderate exercise programs—ranging eight weeks to one year—saw lower incidence and duration of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), with reductions as high as 40-50% among people who were active on a daily basis. A similar analysis of results from long term population studies found a 28% reduction in URTI in groups with higher levels of physical activity and fitness.

Several human and rodent studies, summarized in a recent New York Times article, indicated that maintaining physical fitness is good for the immune system, and even short bouts of exercise can amplify the body’s ability to fight off harmful germs.

3. Exercise Lowers Stress

Physical activity can also have a more indirect, positive effect on immune function by mitigating stress. Research out of Carnegie Melon found that people with higher levels of psychological stress were more susceptible to the common cold.

In addition to the immune system benefit, stress can have an obvious negative effect on mental health and well-being. But exercise can help with that.

A study published in Frontiers in Physiology showed that regular exercise could create greater emotional resilience to acute, short term stress in healthy people. Respondents to an American Psychological Association “Stress in America” survey reported positive effects of exercise, including:

  • better mood
  • feeling good about themselves
  • feeling less stressed

According to the survey, 43% of Americans report they use exercise to manage their stress, and 62% of those people found it to be extremely or very effective.

4. Physical Activity is Good for Metabolic Health

Research has linked poor metabolic health to poorer immune system function, which is one reason people with chronic medical conditions like diabetes are at higher risk of developing—and having complications from—infections like flu and coronavirus. Studies have also found that people with diabetes and high blood glucose are more susceptible to infection, and people with obesity and diabetes have greater immune suppression than metabolically healthy people with obesity.

Evidence has also linked good metabolic health and higher levels of physical activity. Spending more time active lowered the odds of metabolic syndrome, and science has linked both acute and long term exercise to lower blood glucose levels.

Additionally, long term studies show 30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as walking briskly, for 30 minutes a day can reduce the risk of diabetes by 30%.

What is that Soreness After a Workout?

When you exercise, you are challenging your muscles to perform work by lifting weights or moving your own body weight. By overcoming new exercises or workloads, you create microscopic tears in the muscles. The body’s healing process repairs those tiny muscle tears and rebuilds them stronger so that the next time you perform the same strenuous activities, you are more capable and likely will not experience the same soreness.

That sore muscle feeling that comes after a workout is called Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) and occurs during the time the body is healing itself. DOMS often sets in about 24-48 hours after performing strenuous activity. DOMS is completely normal to experience after workout; it may be more noticeable when first starting an exercise routine, not working out for a long time, or when varying or incorporating exercises into a regimen. DOMS directly affects the muscles used during the workout period (i.e. after performing squats or lunges, the leg muscles may be sore after).

DOMS is how the body adapts to change, and while it cannot be avoided DOMS, there are things that can be done to help recovery. Although there is no scientific evidence to support speeding up the recovery of DOMS, there are basic things that muscles need to repair:

  • Hydration
  • Protein
  • Carbohydrates

As a general rule of thumb, on a daily basis hydrating with half your body weight in ounces. Then when exercising, increasing that consumption by a glass of water or two. Depending on the intensity of your workout, this may help the recovery time. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs you should drink about 75oz of water per day (which is about 9-10 glasses). Having a 200 calorie snack after your workout that is a mixture of protein and carbs is also ideal for recovery from DOMS. There is no escaping DOMS, so embrace the sore feeling and think of it as a marker that you have put in the work to see changes in yourself.

 

– Corynne Duprey, MS, CSCS

Recipe of the Week: Honey Garlic Salmon and Veggies

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 25 mins
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1/4 cup fresh dill chopped
  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp pepper or to taste
  • 2 lb salmon fillet
  • 2 medium zucchinis sliced
  • 12 cocktail tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lemon cut into slices, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a small bowl whisk together the honey, garlic, lemon juice, dill, and half the salt and pepper. Pour over the salmon and spread on both sides. Place the salmon in the middle of the baking sheet. Place some lemon slices over the salmon, if preferred.
  3. Season the zucchini and tomatoes with the remaining salt and pepper, then drizzle the olive oil over them and place in the sheet pan around the salmon.
  4. Place the sheet pan in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Turn the broiler on and broil for another 3 to 5 minutes or just until the top browns a bit. Make sure you watch it often as it could burn quickly.
  5. Serve immediately.

NOTE: Use any type of vegetables that you like. For example, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, etc.

NUTRITION

Calories: 427kcal

Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 47g, Fat: 18g, Cholesterol: 125mg, Sodium: 407mg, Fiber: 2g Sugar: 13g

 

Original recipe can be found here!

How Much Physical Activity is Enough Physical Activity?

Time and time again, the benefits of Physical Activity (PA) have been shown to have many positive effects on our health including: improved balance, improved cardiovascular health, muscular strength, and improved overall quality of life (learn even more here!). Much research has been done into the benefits of PA, but not much can be proven in the way of recovering from bouts of exercise, and here’s why…

The recommended exercise prescription for adults is 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity per week and at least two resistance training sessions per week. These are set to have the most positive effect on human health based on recent research (Ostojic, 2016). The way that a person recovers from these types of activities varies and is all subjective. Factors such as current fitness level, age, rest levels, diet, and hydration all play a role into how someone recovers from exercise. If a trained person lifts weights three times a week regularly, they will need less time to recover than someone who does not exercise routinely and then starts a similar program.

We can scale recovery the same way we scale exercise, by using the F.I.T.T. principle:

F: Frequency– Bouts of exercise that happen more often (i.e. 1 day/ week v. 3 days/ week) will require more scheduled rest in between

I: Intensity– More Intense bouts of exercise (i.e. higher perceived exertion, greater percentage of maximal heart rate) require larger rest periods than less intense bouts of exercise

T: Time– A longer session of exercise (long runs, big lifting sessions) need longer time before the next bout of exercise to ensure a full recovery

T: Type– The type of recovery you do and type of exercise you do can greatly vary recovery times. Someone who balances nutrition and rest will recover faster. If someone has not rode a bike in a year, they may feel more sore afterwards than someone who cycles regularly.

The key takeaway is that recovery is subjective; two people of the same fitness levels doing the same workout may experience different levels of soreness and fatigue during the post-exercise recovery period. The most important thing that someone can do is listen to their body and scale their workouts and recoveries accordingly.

 

By Matthew Rhodes, MS

 

Sources

Bishop, P.A, Jones E., & Woods A.K. (2008). Recovery from training: a brief review.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research., 22(3):1015-1024.

Ostojic SM. Editorial: post-exercise recovery: fundamental and interventional physiology. Front Physiol. 2016;7:3.

Recipe of the Week: Lemon Chicken Piccata

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts pounded to 1/2” thickness (or purchased thin-sliced)
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • 3 Tbsp blanched almond flour
  • 2 Tbsp tapioca flour
  • 3 Tbsp ghee divided
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 small onion chopped (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1 cup chicken bone broth
  • Juice of 1 lemon about 2 Tbsp
  • 1/2 cup coconut cream blended before using (the cream is the thick part of a chilled can of coconut milk. It can also be purchased separately
  • 1 1/2 tsp stone ground mustard (optional, flavor boost only, omit if you don’t like mustard)
  • 1/4 cup capers drained
  • Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Pound your chicken breast to 1/2” thickness, if necessary, and cut into cutlets. Season with sea salt and pepper on both sides.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium/medium-high heat. In a shallow bowl, mix together the almond flour and tapioca for dredging. Add 2 Tbsp of the ghee to the skillet.
  3. Once the ghee is heated, lightly dredge the chicken, one cutlet at a time, in the flour mixture, shake off the excess, and place in the skillet. Cook about 4 minutes on each side to cook through. The outside should be golden brown – adjust the heat if you need to avoid over-browning. Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.
  4. Lower the heat to medium low and add the remaining ghee. Add onions, cook for a minute until translucent, then add the garlic. Cook and stir another minute, until softened. Add the broth and lemon juice, then raise the heat to medium and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  5. Cook for 3 more minutes, then stir in the coconut cream and the mustard (if using). Cook and stir another minute, then stir in the capers. Add the chicken back to the skillet, lower the heat to a simmer and simmer another minute. Serve over sautéed cauliflower rice or veggie noodles. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 308 calories, Fat: 19g, Sodium: 365mg, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 28g

 

 

Original recipe from Paleo Running Mama can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Paleo Slow Cooker Meatballs

Prep Time: 15 minutes                 Cook Time: 4 hours                      Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients:

For the meatballs:

  • 1 3/4 lb ground beef 85% lean
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup blanched almond flour
  • 3/4 tsp fine grain sea salt divided
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning blend
  • generous pinch crushed red pepper adjust for spice preference
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley – optional

For the sauce:

  • 28 oz can crushed tomatoes with basil***
  • 14 oz can diced tomatoes with basil and garlic***
  • 1 – 6 oz can tomato paste
  • 1/2 medium onion chopped
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh garlic
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano leaves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • sea salt to taste

Instructions:

  1. In a small bowl, mix together the almond flour, 1/2 tsp of the sea salt, onion and garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper.
  2. In a large bowl, add the ground beef and sprinkle evenly with the remaining sea salt. Add the egg and almond flour mix (and optional parsley) and gently mix with your hands until the mixture binds and is evenly distributed. It’s important not to work the meat too much or it becomes tough.
  3. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat your broiler. Form the meat mixture into 20 meatballs and arrange on the baking sheet.
  4. Broil 2-4 minutes just to lightly brown and release a small amount of fat (this avoids an overly greasy sauce) and remove promptly.
  5. Add the meatballs to the slow cooker, leaving behind any rendered fat. Top the meatballs with all sauce ingredients and give a gentle stir (careful not to break the meatballs!)
  6. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, until meatballs are cooked through****
  7. Serve when ready to eat with anything you want and garnish with your favorite fresh herbs. Sweet potato noodles, zucchini noodles, or simply your favorite roasted veggies, potatoes, or even eggs. Use the leftovers and sauce for variety in breakfast and lunch the next day!

Notes

***Add extra basil and garlic if you use plain tomatoes.
****Each slow cooker is a bit different. Check at 3.5 hours if you can and adjust cook time from there, if necessary. Cook time should not be longer than 4.5/5 hours or meatballs will be overcooked and dry.

Nutrition:

Calories: 327kcal, Fat: 22g, Carbohydrates: 11g, Sugar: 6g, Protein: 20g

 

Original recipe from Paleo Running Mama can be found here!

Recipe of the Week: Farmers’ Market Veggie Enchiladas

Prep Time: 40 min          Cook Time: 25 min          Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes              Yield: 8

Ingredients:

  • 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, rough chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 small yam, diced small (or zucchini)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ear of corn, kernels cut off (about 1 cup)
  • teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 14 ounce can black beans rinsed, drained
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 cups homemade enchilada sauce (or store-bought)
  • 8 x 8-inch whole wheat tortillas (or sub corn)
  • cups grated cheese (8-10 ounces pepper jack, Mexican blend, cheddar, Mozzarella)
  • Optional garnishes: sour cream, avocado, pickled red onions and hot sauce.

Enchilada Sauce Ingredients:

  • 5 ounce can diced tomatoes (with juices) preferably fire-roasted tomatoes
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic (or 2 garlic cloves)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder (or smoked paprika for smoky flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or 2 tsp fresh)

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 400 F
  • If making the homemade enchilada sauce, place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. The Enchilada sauce will cook as it bakes with enchiladas
  • Make the filling: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and stir 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Lower heat to medium, add bell pepper, yams, garlic and salt. Saute this until yams and peppers are tender about -7-9 minutes. If mixture gets dry, add a splash of water, lower heat and cover and gently steam until yams are fork-tender. Fold in the fresh corn and cumin, coriander and oregano. Saute 3 more minutes. Remove from heat. Add the black beans, taste for salt, adding more if you like. Stir in half the cilantro.
  • Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Pour 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce and spreading around so the bottom of the pan is nicely coated.
  • Assemble your Enchiladas: Place 1/2 cup filling down the center of the tortilla add 2-3 tablespoons grated cheese over top and wrap it up tightly. Place enchilada seam side down over the sauce. Repeat with the remaining 7 tortillas nestling them side by side. Pour the remaining Enchilada Sauce over the enchiladas, leaving the edges exposed if you like (for crispy edges). Sprinkle with remaining cup of cheese.
  • Place in the hot oven, foiled for 20 minutes then uncover for the last 6-10 minutes until cheese is nice and melty. Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving (tented with foil). Scatter the remaining chopped cilantro over the enchiladas.

Note: You need a total of 3-3 1/2 cups of diced veggies (in addition to the onion).

 

Original recipe from Feasting at Home can be found here!

 

 

Recipe of the Week: one skillet, greek sun-dried tomato chicken and farro

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 366 kcal

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, or small thighs
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
  • kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1 cup uncooked farro or quinoa
  • 2 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup oil packed sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup kalamata olives, pitted
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 8 ounces feta cheese, cubed
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
  • 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, the chicken, balsamic vinegar, dill, oregano, paprika, garlic, and a large pinch of both salt and pepper. Toss well to evenly coat the chicken.
  3. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large dutch oven or cast-iron skillet, set over medium high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the chicken and sear on both sides until golden, about 3-5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet.
  4. To the same skillet, add the farro. Cook 2-3 minutes. Add the chicken broth, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil over high heat and stir. Slide in the chicken and any juices left on the plate back into the skillet. Transfer to the oven and roast for 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the farro becomes soft.
  5. Serve the chicken topped with feta, dill, and pine nuts.

 

Original recipe from Half Baked Harvest can be found here!