The Fountain of Youth? It’s Called Exercise
The key to living a long and healthy life
The key to living a long and healthy life
For centuries, humans have searched for a mythical “Fountain of Youth” — a way to slow ageing and extend our healthspan. While no miracle elixir has been found, modern science points to a simple yet powerful solution: exercise.
Recent research confirms what many have long suspected — staying physically active can quite literally add years to your life. A study presented at the American Heart Association found that following just eight healthy habits, including exercise, can decelerate biological aging by up to six years.
But what kinds of exercise are best for longevity?
According to Dr. Borja del Pozo Cruz, a leading researcher on the topic, a balanced combination of aerobic activities and strength training provides the greatest benefits.
In a study of over 500,000 people, Dr. del Pozo Cruz’s team found the ideal exercise “recipe” was 75 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise like walking or cycling per week, plus over 150 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise like running, coupled with at least two strength training sessions. This mix was linked to the lowest risk of early death from any cause.
The great news? You don’t have to be an uber-athlete to reap the rewards.
Dr. del Pozo Cruz’s research suggests just two minutes of vigorous exercise daily could significantly reduce your risk of dying from cancer or heart disease over five years.
“Any amount of any form of exercise is better than none,” he emphasizes. Though physical job demands often don’t count — occupations like nursing that involve intensive physical labour were actually tied to higher cognitive impairment risk in one study.
For the rest of us desk-bound warriors, carving out time for deliberate exercise is crucial as we age. As 72-year-old “Iron Gran” Edwina Brocklesby demonstrates, maintaining a fitness regimen with activities like running, cycling and swimming can allow you to achieve incredible feats even in your later years.
So while the Fountain of Youth may be a myth, the real anti-ageing solution is simple: move more. Adding a variety of aerobic activities and strength training to your routine can help keep your body feeling young and extend your healthspan.
No magic water required!
References: European Heart Journal, Volume 43, Issue 46, 7 December 2022, Pages 4801–4814, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehac572
Medical and health information | MedicalNewsToday
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