Could exercise be the “Fountain of Youth”?
Published July 1st, 2022
By Vickie Aigner, Certified Fitness Trainer & Active Aging Specialist
For a long time, we have heard that regular exercise keeps us healthy.
BUT – and this is a big but, what does that mean?
It has been proven that different types of exercise can provide different health benefits and can help prevent up to 85% of common diseases that we face as we age.
As listed on Medline Plus, regular exercise can prevent the following health issues:
- Obesity
- Heart diseases, including coronary artery disease and heart attack
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Stroke
- Metabolic syndrome
- Type 2 diabetes
- Certain cancers, including colon, breast, and uterine cancers
- Osteoporosis and falls
- Increased feelings of depression and anxiety
But, how does this work? Keep reading to find out about the three types of exercise that contribute to this.
1. Cardio
Any exercise in which we do a movement that raises our heart rate substantially for an extended period of time.
This is good for:
- strengthening our heart
- increasing our respiratory function and lung health
- oxygenating the blood and brain to get blood flowing to all of our organs
- increasing our immunity
- prevents common diseases
- promoting weight loss
- reducing symptoms of chronic conditions
Check out my favorite cardio class that we offer at Alive, Fit & Free are: Energy Up Adaptive Fitness.
2. Strength Training
Any exercise in which we build muscle strength either with weights or using our body weight.
Remember, muscles move bones and joints, so by strength training we are protecting the skeletal system by increasing muscle mass.
Strength training is good for:
- keeping us strong, stable, and mobile
- improving our balance
- increasing our metabolism
- helping to prevent or reverse osteoporosis
- decreasing excess body fat
Check out my favorite strength training class that we offer at Alive, Fit & Free are: Adaptive Fitness & Strength Training.
3. Flexibility
Any exercise in which we lengthen and stretch out the muscles and increase mobility in joints.
Flexibility is good for:
- Improving joint health and keeping you limber
- increasing our mobility and freedom in your movement
- preventing injuries
- increasing blood flow and boosting immunity
- reducing symptoms of chronic diseases.
Check out my favorite flexibility class that we offer at Alive, Fit & Free are: Yoga for Daily Life Movement.
These are all great reasons why we should be starting our fitness journey to stay active, independent, and empowered.
BUT, there is more.
Recently a new study was published that found that cardio exercise can make aging muscle stem cells actually start to act like younger stem cells again.
What does this mean?
While nothing can truly turn back time, “there’s clear evidence that exercise can activate the machinery necessary for DNA repair,” as explained by aging researcher Nathan LeBrasseur.
This means that exercising actually changes the ability of your cells to rejuvenate themselves, helping your body recover like that of a younger person.
So exercise is the closest Fountain of Youth we will ever find!
So – how can we get started on our fitness journey and dive into the Fountain of Youth?
That’s where Alive, Fit & Free comes in!
I built this community so that anyone – of ANY age or ability – has a place to access fun, engaging, safe classes with expert instructors – and a great community to encourage them along the way.
Watch the video below to see how our classes help you stay active and independent.
