Exercise Cuts Inflammation-Related Protein in Blood
 (NY, Reuters Health, 11/27/02)

When Dr. Timothy S. Church of The Cooper Institute in Dallas, TX, and team, tested 722 men on a treadmill and then correlated the results with the subjects' C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels, the researchers found that the fittest men tended to have the lowest CRP levels. Since elevated CRP levels indicate body-wide inflammation and are linked to cardiovascular disease, this study suggests that becoming fit through exercise may reduce a person's CRP levels and, thereby, decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular problems.