Longevity Rx Exercise

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longevity and exercise

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Longevity and exercise! Maintain your health and independence as you age with regular exercise. Exercise improves muscle strength, cardiovascular health, & joint health.

Exercise for Longevity

Longevity and exercise go together like salt and pepper, I think.

Exercise as you age is crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being, particularly for supporting independence in daily living.

I’ve always been active, but as a 70-something year old now, I’m even more keenly aware that exercise, as well as clean healthy eating, are critical to my longevity and aging well. 

Enhances Physical Health

  • Maintains Muscle Strength and Bone Density: Aging naturally leads to muscle loss (sarcopenia) and bone weakening (osteoporosis). Regular resistance and weight-bearing exercises help slow these processes.
  • Improves Cardiovascular Health: Activities like walking, swimming, or cycling enhance heart health and circulation, reducing the risk of conditions like heart disease and stroke.
  • Supports Joint Health: Low-impact exercises like yoga and tai chi can help reduce stiffness and improve flexibility, mitigating the effects of arthritis.

Exercising over 60

Boosts Balance and Prevents Falls

  • Falls are a leading cause of injury in older adults. Exercises focusing on balance and coordination, such as tai chi or balance training, help reduce fall risk.
  • Improved strength and reflexes make it easier to recover balance in potentially hazardous situations.

Does Exercising Make you Look Younger

I sure think so! And, research confirms this. Exercise can make you look younger by improving your skin, metabolism, and muscle mass. 

Check out these benefits for your looks and your longevity and exercise:

Skin

Clears impuritiesSweat from exercise removes dirt and impurities from your skin. 

Improves elasticityExercise can reverse some of the skin cell changes that cause aging signs, like loss of elasticity.

Increases collagen and hyaluronic acidExercise increases collagen and hyaluronic acid, which are structural proteins that improve skin elasticity. 

longevity and exercise

Metabolism

Maintains a higher metabolismExercise keeps your metabolism elevated, even when you’re resting. 

Improves skin cell metabolismExercise improves how well your skin cells function. 

 

Muscle mass 

 

Prevents muscle lossRegular exercise can help prevent muscle loss, especially in older people.

Increases aerobic capacityExercise can increase aerobic capacity, which can make you biologically younger.

Lack of Exercise

On the flip side, well, there are some pretty significant consequences as we age and if we’re couch potatoes!

As you age, and if you don’t exercise, you can experience a range of negative physical, mental, and emotional consequences that may significantly impact their quality of life and independence.

Loss of strength makes everyday tasks, such as climbing stairs or lifting objects, increasingly difficult.

Sedantary lifestyles contribute to reduced heart function and blood circulation and increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues.

Sedentary lifestyles are linked to higher rates of type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and certain cancers.

Physical inactivity exacerbates pre-existing conditions, making them harder to manage.

And, not to mention cognitive decline and mental health challenges as you age.

Bottom line is that lack of activity as we age may greatly hamper our independence and shorten our lifespan. 

I’m not willing to take that risk. That’s why even when I don’t want to exercise or move, I do it! 

longevity and exercise

Older Adults Fitness

Exercise does help you mental health! It’s like a natural ‘feel good’ boost! Honestly, if I didn’t exercise most every day, doing something from gardening to walking to a full blown workout class, I’d not be as energetic as I am! 

But, just don’t take my word for touting the importance of exercise, check the authorities and what they say!

Group exercises, community fitness classes, or walking groups provide opportunities to connect with others, combating social isolation and enhancing emotional well-being.

Here’s some pretty compelling information that might want to get your off the couch and exercise more. Did you know that exercise:

  • Reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers.
  • Improves immune function, making the body better equipped to fight infections.

Effects of Exercise on Cognitive Functions

Reduces Depression and Anxiety: Physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins, which improve mood and reduce stress.

Preserves Cognitive Function: Exercise has been linked to a reduced risk of dementia and better memory retention through improved blood flow to the brain.

longevity and exercise

Exercise in Older People

Probably one of the biggest things for me about exercise and why I MAKE myself do it almost daily is that it preserves my independence! I don’t want to be ‘at the mercy’. I want to stay as vibrant and active as I can for as long as I can. 

Supports Mobility: Regular activity helps preserve the ability to perform essential tasks like walking, climbing stairs, or getting out of a chair.

Improves Stamina: Keeping active ensures you have the energy for daily chores and recreational activities.

Reduces Reliance on Assistance: Strength and agility gained through exercise help older adults avoid dependency on caregivers or assistive devices.

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