By Paige Greenfield; image from Freepik.com

And the winner isIn a perfect world, everyone would workout enough and eat correctly allthe time. But thats not always possible, so we turned to the experts to findout what really matters most dieting orexercise for losing weight, fighting disease and boosting overall wellbeing. Here, we crown the champ in each category.

The winner: DietThe reason: As research makes clear, trimming kilojoules from your diet is the most direct route to a smaller dress size. Its much easier for most people to cut 2 000kJ from their diet than it is to spend an hour in the gym trying to burn the same amount of kilojoules, says dietician Charlene Giovanelli-Nicolson. However, both diet and exercise are essential for keeping that weight off.

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The winner: ExerciseThe reason: Exercise causes the brain to pour out invigorating neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, says exercise psychologist Dr Patrick OConnor. People who train consistently report surges in energy, according to some 70studies.

The winner: DietThe reason: If you had to focus onone nutrient that would lower your heart disease risk, itwould be omega-3 fatty acids, says cardiovascular disease physician Dr William Harris. Instudies, omega-3s from oily fish lower heart disease risk by up to 64 percent. That said, working out does strengthen your cardiovascular system, reducing risk.

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The winner: ExerciseThe reason: Around 840 000 South Africans have diabetes. Achieving a healthy weight through diet and exercise is the strongest defence against the disease, but physical activity has a slight edge. Active muscles gobble up glucose from the blood for fuel, which helps keep blood-sugar levels stable.

The winner: BothThe reason: Eating a mostly plant-based diet and exercising regularly remain the gold standard for warding off cancer. Keep in mind: the more consistently you work out, the greater theprotection.

The winner: ExerciseThe reason: A20-minute sweatsession can be enough to perk up your mood for awhopping 12 hours, reports a recent US study. It may also be as effective as medication for treating depression. And exercise can lead to changes in the brain that protect you from stress.

So, which is actually better: cardio or weights? Plus: 6 bizarre things that can make you fat other than food.

This article was originally published on http://www.womenshealthmag.com

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Which Is Actually Better For Weight Loss: Diet Or Exercise?