According to a new study from the University of California, San Diego, it seems even a small amount of physical activity delivers a significant anti-inflammatory punch. For this investigation, scientists had 47 study subjects walk at a moderately brisk pace on a treadmill for 20 minutes. Before and right after the exercise, blood samples were taken to measure markers of inflammation. After the walking challenge, blood levels of immune cells that produce a potent pro-inflammatory protein called TNF dropped by five percent. Given that inflammation is involved in most every chronic disease from obesity to arthritis, this is fantastic news.
