Recent findings indicate that moderate intensity physical activity is good for your health. It has been shown that regular, low to moderate intensity physical activity brings lower blood pressure, better blood cholesterol profiles, protection against diabetes, reduction in
body fat, and an active life for longer. These benefits can be had with very modest levels of exercise, blowing the no pain- no gain theory out of the water. For these reasons, many local GPs are encouraging their patients to become more active and prescribing green.
A Green Prescription is a GPs written advice to a patient to be more physically active. The concept is a joint initiative between the Hilary Commission and the Department of Health, with a vision to get all New Zealanders exercising for 30 minutes a day, most days of the week. As an avid
cyclist myself, I am always keen to promote cycling as the ideal form of exercise for health benefits, whilst at the same time being easy on bones and joints (my crazy mountain biking friends may dispute this!). Its also fun, environmentally friendly and sociable too. With a bit of
organization, most busy adults can find 30 minutes somewhere in their day for exercise. In fact, research has shown that snacking on activity i.e. shorter bouts of exercise totaling 30 minutes has equivalent heath benefits to a single exercise bout. I find commuting to work from Redcliffs
an ideal way to fit my exercise around my work schedule. An increasing number of workplaces are cycle friendly with bike racks and showering facilities, so a lunchtime ride may be an option too. Dr George Sheehan, a famous American Cardiologist and runner, used to exercise at lunchtimes.
Being a busy man, he often would run out of time for a shower before seeing his afternoon patients. Athletic sweat does not smell he exclaimed. Perhaps his patients were just too polite!!
So, the next time you visit your GP, dont be surprised if you walk out of the office with a Green Prescription: Cycling 30 minutes per day, most if not all days of the week. See you on the road sometime
Dr Keith Murray
