Exercise, explained
Humans have espoused the value of exercise for centuries, from ancient Greek gymnasiums and Roman military drills to the advice of Susruta of India, a physician who prescribed daily exercise to prevent and treat diseases around 600 BCE.
Today, modern science confirms what our predecessors long assumed: movement is a biological necessity for physical and mental well-being. Without it, nearly every organ and biological process in the body—muscle, heart, brain, metabolism—begins to decline.
Physical activity sets off a cascade of internal changes that begins with muscle contractions. This triggers the production of proteins called myokines, chemical messengers that are released into the bloodstream and travel to distant organs to reduce inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, and promote brain development. Perhaps most remarkably, exercise doesn’t just change how the body functions—it changes how genes express themselves. Through a process known as epigenetics, physical activity turns beneficial genes “on” and harmful genes “off” without altering the physical structure of DNA.
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