How To Look and Feel Younger
Do you sprint effortlessly up the stairs when the lift is broken, or puff and pant your way to the top? Are you as active as you were in your teens, or a couch potato? If you’ve resigned yourself to the fact that declining strength, stamina and muscle tone are part of getting older, think again. Research shows that people who are active well into old age maintain their fitness.
Evidence suggests that decline is not inevitable below the age of 70. In fact, you can be almost as fit in your 60s as you were in your 20s. London, stresses the importance of exercise: We can slow the deterioration that comes with age. By contrast, no exercise early on accelerates your natural decline. The harder it is to exert yourself, the less you do and, as you do less, exercise becomes more difficult.
The reality is that most of us are frighteningly unfit. In a recent health study, 80 per cent of the women and 78 per cent of the men surveyed didn’t do enough exercise to benefit their health. In many of these people, stamina, muscle strength and aerobic capacity — vital indicators of overall fitness — were lower than expected for their ages. Some sedentary 20-year-olds were less fit than active 60- and 70-year-olds.
Sensible, regular exercise combined with a balanced, low-fat diet keeps blood cholesterol down, reduces your heart rate and lowers blood pressure, while strengthening the heart muscle and increasing aerobic capacity.
Looking after yourself now will protect against age-related ailments like heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and diabetes. It is never too late to start getting into shape.
Whatever your age, exercise and you’ll see an improvement in your fitness and strength. Recent US studies have found that people who took up exercise in their 70s and 80s improved their strength and overall fitness. Exercise makes you feel healthier, you’ll sleep better and have more energy. Some research suggests that exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, our body’s “good mood” chemicals, and that active people are less likely to be depressed and anxious.
If the health benefits aren’t enough to motivate you, picture how much better you’ll look. A lean, toned body beats a shapeless, flabby one every time. Exercise also benefits your skin by stimulating blood flow to the blood vessels that nourish the skin.
Just 20 minutes of exercise three or four times a week will stretch your muscles and strengthen your bones, and you’ll feel the benefits in weeks.
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