With the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games only eight days away, our days are increasingly filled with promotion of the Games and its participating athletes. The summer games also provide a great reminder to all of us about the importance of physical activity as a part of our daily routine. In honor of the games, the journal The Lancet published a series of papers and articles on physical activity - highlighting the benefits of exercise and, in one particular piece, the negative health consequences of physical inactivity globally.

According to the authors of that article, there is strong evidence that physical inactivity increases the risk of “many adverse health conditions,” linking to a major public health issue. Here at Sip & Savor, we often write about the importance of physical activity and exercise. After all, we know that balancing calories consumed from all sources with those burned through physical activity is the key to maintaining a healthy weight.

So while you are hopefully preparing to watch your favorite athletes and fellow countrymen and women compete, remember that the human body needs exercise for optimal function. Try to embrace the inner Olympian in you this summer – perhaps you may even want to give one of the Olympic sports a try! And remember to hydrate while you are at!