Aerobic means "with oxygen." Although it has its basis in biology, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, an Air Force physician, coined the term in relation to exercise with his 1969 book, "Aerobics." The concept quickly caught on and created a workout craze that has spanned more than four decades. Cooper's principles were sound, and health-care professionals support it for its many benefits.
In Nature
In nature, an organism is aerobic if it requires oxygen to live. For example, some bacteria are not aerobic because they can exist without oxygen. All other beings take oxygen in through aspiration and respiration, where it is then used by cells to metabolize or burn glucose for energy.
Exercise
An aerobic exercise is one where the body increases its intake of oxygen, which in turn burns more glucose to fuel the activity. When insufficient glucose is present, oxygen will resort to burning fat instead. An exercise is only aerobic when sustained over a period of time. For instance, football is not aerobic. It's comprised of intense plays followed by short breaks as players set up for the next burst of activity. On the other hand, tennis, swimming, running and dance all require a continuous expenditure of energy. The continuous movement makes you breathe harder and draw in more oxygen, which begins burning glucose and fat to keep you going.
Benefits
In addition to burning fat, aerobic activity improves cardiovascular health. It causes your heart to pump faster to move blood, carrying oxygen to your muscles and lungs. Your capillaries expand to help the process and carry away impurities in your body for disposal as waste. The rush of oxygen also prompts your brain to produce endorphins, which help ease pain and improve your mood.
Warnings
While the benefits of aerobic exercise are many, this doesn't mean you should rush out, grab a jump rope and dive right in. Tailor your activity to your level of fitness. The more fit you are, the more extended activity your body can endure and the more oxygen it can use to its advantage. The Mayo Clinic recommends starting out slowly, with activity in short increments, and building from there. You can begin walking for a few minutes a day, adding minutes and increasing your pace with each subsequent day. But clear it with your doctor first, especially if your lifestyle has been particularly sedentary or you have a medical condition that requires a physician's care.
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