A closer look
Working out does not just punish your muscles; it completely evicts the lazy bacteria living in your intestines. Physical activity actively alters the environment of your gastrointestinal tract, promoting the growth of microbial strains that specifically produce short-chain fatty acids. These fitness-loving microbes drastically reduce systemic inflammation and boost your metabolism. If you stop exercising, they quickly die off, meaning your gut bugs are just as fair-weather about fitness as you are.
