Many studies have been written about the positive impact of physical activity on improving various body indices and even improving our mood. However, the way in which physical activity influences (if at all) the metabolic system, which is responsible for digesting and dissolving the food that we eat and our body's metabolism, has remained mostly nebulous thus far.

A recent study that was published in 2020 in Circulation Journal reveals the beneficial impact that physical activity also has on the metabolic system itself. This system digests and dissolves the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates we eat and turns them into the building blocks our body requires.

The study was conducted among 1,200 adults aged 50 and older and in two rounds in order to confirm the results, including collecting blood samples in a restful state and additional blood samples immediately after intensive physical activity. The results were unequivocal: over 80 percent of the test subjects who engaged in high-intensity physical activity for 12 minutes have shown significant and immediate improvement to their body’s metabolism. Of 588 different metabolic indices tested, 502 have shown significant differences, including: better influence resistance, improved fat burning rate, improved blood flow, improved cardiovascular-related indices, and improved indices related to the system responsible for treating inflammatory conditions.

It should be stressed that the beneficial impact of physical activity was measured both in men and women, particularly among individuals with high body mass index (BMI) – an indicator of obesity and overweight. These are very reassuring news about the ability of each and every one of us to improve our body's functions through physical activity that while intensive, only takes a relatively short period of 12 minutes.