By Meagan Cramer on March 30, 2022
The benefits of exercise
And how to get more active
Adults who get regular physical activity benefit from improvements in their health including:
- A boosted mood
- Improved sleep
- Lower risk of heart disease and some cancers
- Better control of diabetes and high blood pressure
What constitutes “regular physical activity?”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes (or 2 ½ hours) of moderate physical activity per week along with two days a week of muscle-strengthening activity or activity that makes your muscles work harder than usual.
How do you know if your activity is moderate or vigorous?
Use the “talk test” to find out.
When you’re being active, just try talking:
- If you’re breathing hard but can still have a conversation easily, it’s a moderate-intensity activity
- If you can only say a few words before you have to take a breath, it’s a vigorous-intensity activity
Sometimes getting started is the hardest part. If you need help figuring out what types of activity to do and how to fit them in, check out this interactive activity planner. After you answer a few questions about your goals and interests, you’ll be able to pick activities and build out a weekly activity plan.
No matter what activities you take on, any physical activity, but especially moderate-to-vigorous activity, can help offset risks we see more American adults struggling with like increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
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Meagan Cramer
Meagan Cramer is a homegrown Kansas girl who loves connecting the farm with foodies. She enjoys seeing the light bulb come on when someone steps foot on farm soil and hears directly from Kansas farmers and ranchers. Her favorite thing is celebrating farmers and food.
