Vigorous Exercise and Inflammation

A poster presentation at the annual meeting of the World Congress on Insulin Resistance by Michael Richardson, BSH, showed that vigorous exercise reduces the odds that someone will have high levels of C-reactive protein, or CRP. CRP is a both a marker of inflammation and causes damage to blood vessels. Elevated levels of CRP is associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Lowering CRP in non-obese people can probably be achieved with moderate exercise. Obese people have higher CRP levels because the fat itself increases the body's level of inflammation. Obese people need to perform vigorous exercise to lower their CRP levels. Moderate exercise will not do the trick. Depending on your level of fitness, vigorous exercise may be a moderate to brisk walk, or it might be a strenuous hike or vigorous swim.