It's no secret that physical exercise is essential to maintaining a healthy body. But did you know that it is also one of the best remedies against aging?
Here are the 7 reasons why sport is your best ally if you want to look and feel younger:
It improves skin health
By increasing blood circulation and increasing cell oxygenation, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them healthy. Furthermore, when we sweat, our pores open and release accumulated waste. Sweat purges the body of toxins that would otherwise clog pores and cause blemishes.
It improves posture
Due to muscle loss and changes in bone density related to the aging process, the body loses its ability to maintain a healthy posture. By practicing core and strength exercises, or using resistance bands, it is possible to prevent muscle wasting and bone loss.
It increases flexibility
Although any type of exercise, including aerobic and anaerobic exercise, can improve our flexibility, yoga and pilates are particularly effective for increasing flexibility as we age. By increasing flexibility, we reduce the risk of injury, and we age healthier.
It prevents cognitive decline
Many studies show that regular aerobic (cardio-type) exercise increases the size of the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning, and promotes the creation of new blood vessels in the brain. People who exercise can literally have the brains of a younger person, allowing them to continue learning and maintain acute mental health for longer than sedentary people who don't get regular movement at daily.
It prevents the slowdown of metabolism
As we age, our metabolism naturally slows down. As the pounds pile on, we put our bodies at increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other serious health problems. The greater our muscle mass, the faster our body burns calories. So, by exercising and keeping our bodies strong, we are better able to maintain a healthy weight and reduce our risk of disease.
It slows down cellular aging
Telomeres, the caps at the ends of our chromosomes that are responsible for aging, become shorter with age. Recent studies have shown a link between regular exercise and telomere lengthening, suggesting that exercise can literally slow down our aging and help us live longer.
It relieves stress
If exercise is a fountain of youth, stress is just the opposite. Experts say that one of the keys to living a long, happy and healthy life lies in our resilience, that is, our ability to bounce back, to move forward after stressful life events. Without it, research shows that high stress levels can have a huge impact on our longevity, costing us up to 33 years of our life! Exercise reduces stress, which allows us to live longer, happier lives.
