What if there were a drug to treat every illness, across all body systems, proven potent against heart disease, depression, arthritis, PMS and erectile dysfunction — even in chronic diseases such as asthma, dementia, and certain types of cancer? What if it had no side effects, was completely free, readily available, and worked for everyone? Every single person who took it decreased her risk of premature death and raised his quality of life. Would you want it?
In a healthcare system that spends 17% of GDP, roughly $2.7 trillion, mostly on disease treatment, how do we save money and prevent illness? By increasing the use of the world’s most effective preventive medicine:exercise.
Jordan D. Metzl, MD, explains how everyone can maximize their daily dose in his groundbreaking new book, The Exercise Cure: A Doctor’s All-Natural, No-Pill Prescription for Better Health and Longer Life (Rodale Books; December 2013; ISBN 978-1-62336-010-8 Hardcover; $26.99; 304 pages; also available as an eBook). In The Exercise Cure, Dr. Metzl — nationally renowned sports medicine physician — offers malady-specific and well-researched exercise prescriptions to help readers stay healthy, heal disease, drop pounds, increase longevity, and transform their lives.
Today’s medical system is largely focused on fixing rather than preventing problems, and many treatments carry significant side effects. Cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Lipitor and Crestor are linked to frequent muscle and joint problems, anti-hypertensive drugs like Beta-blockers cause headaches and diminished energy, and Prozac and other popular anti-depressant medications carry multiple consequences including sexual dysfunction. Dr. Metzl knows that exercise is inexpensive, powerful medicine that has benefits in prevention and treatment of disease without disturbing side effects. Even in older adults, daily exercise has been found to prevent dementia by generating neuron development in the hippocampus, the memory center of the brain.
Combining the latest data and his proven motivational skills, Dr. Metzl addresses the common maladies troubling millions. He discusses our cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, musculoskeletal, neurologic, reproductive, and endocrinologic body systems, with special sections on sleep problems and cancer prevention, presenting the science behind the role of exercise as medicine. Then, he details fun, fat-torching, life-prolonging workouts that can be tailored easily to any fitness level, beginner to advanced, and provides nutritional information, including meal plans for healthy eating and disease prevention, as well.
ABOUT JORDAN METZL
Jordan D. Metzl, MD, is a nationally known sports medicine physician at New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery, author of The Athlete’s Book of Home Remedies, an eleven-time Ironman triathlete and a 30-time marathoner. He appears repeatedly on New York Magazine’s esteemed Best Doctors list, is a regular guest on the “Today” show and has contributed to “Good Morning America,” The New York Times, and National Public Radio. He also developed the Ironstrength workout designed to build kinetic chain strength that has been performed by millions of athletes around the world. He lives in New York City.