Everyone should know by now that exercise is essential for good health, but what many people don’t realize is exactly how beneficial it is. Exercise is not only useful for helping you lose weight, maintaining a healthy body weight, and making you feel good but exercise can also help treat many medical conditions - many times more effectively than the medications intended for that specific purpose.

If the effectiveness of exercise to treat chronic disease and conditions was considered and exercise was a pill, it would be the most prescribed medication in the world.

Below is a list of the top medical conditions that can be treated with exercise as effectively, or more effectively, than medication. Before you ditch your meds for exercise, make sure you talk to your doctor and see if your condition will allow you to do so.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can be treated with a regular cardiovascular exercise routine. Modifying your diet can increase the benefit even more.

High Cholesterol

Adding a regular cardiovascular and strength training routine has been shown to lower cholesterol levels. Modifying your diet can increase the benefit even more.

Type II Diabetes

In some cases, Type II Diabetes can be eliminated altogether with proper diet and exercise. Science has shown adding 20-30 minutes of regular physical activity of any kind 5 days a week, can greatly reduce blood sugar levels.

Depression

Studies have shown that exercise is more effective at treating depression than any antidepressant on the market, by adding 20-30 minutes of regular physical activity of any kind 5 days a week.

Arthritis

Light resistance training that focuses on a full range of motion is best for treating arthritis pain. The more you move, the better the result.

Osteoporosis

Adding regular strength training 2-4 days per week has shown to increase bone density and/or prevent the deterioration of bone density (depending on your age). Lifting heaver weights is actually better.