Exercise is great for our health ― it “can reduce your risk of major illnesses, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer, and lower your risk of early death by up to 30%,” the NHS says.

It’s even been linked to a lower likelihood of depression, dementia, and arthritis.

And now, new research suggests that it might not just bulk up your biceps ― regular movement can “train” your immune system, too.

According to the paper, published in the journal Scientific Reports, “Ageing is associated with immune dysfunction, but long-term endurance training may confer protective effects on immune cell function.”

Why might exercise “train” our immune system?

This (admittedly small) study focused on nine participants with an average age of 64. They looked at their natural killer (NK) cells, a type of white blood cell which can spot and get rid of diseased cells.

These can sometimes include........

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