As we make
choices to live healthier, many of us vow to wake up early and exercise each
morning. Unfortunately, the snooze button and a cozy bed can thwart good
intentions. Exercising at night may be an effective way to reach missed morning
goals. New research shows endurance exercise later in the day may actually help
burn more fat.
A randomized
control trial looked at 14 male adults to compare response to exercise in the
morning and evening. The study found that participants had higher levels of
inflammation and fat breakdown after evening exercise when compared to morning
exercise. Though inflammation is often viewed as bad, it is a good response to exercise.
The slow burn of long-term inflammation that contributes to chronic disease is
not the same as the acute inflammation caused by exercise. In fact, exercise
helps decrease chronic inflammation. The researchers believe the increase in
acute inflammation after exercise (specifically interleukin-6) may be the cause
of increased fat breakdown. The difference in morning and evening exercise
response may be linked to circadian rhythms, which effect hormone levels that
mediate inflammation and fat breakdown.
Bottom Line:
The best time of day to exercise is the time of day you are able to stick
to!
So if waking up
for morning cardio fails, evening aerobics has its merits. Schedule exercise in
your calendar like you would any other appointment to ensure you stick to it,
no matter what time of day it is.
Visit Wellness Workdays for more information about our worksite wellness programs
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