It is an open secret that exercise is the best way you can maintain a good health and also avoid ageing. In today’s age of junk food and couch lifestyle, exercise is increasingly being recognized as the closest thing to a miracle drug that we have. Regular movement of the body is good the mind and the body and also has the ability to protect from various aspects of aging.
A new study from the Journal of the American Heart Association has found that older people who spent less time sitting and spent more time moving, had few signs of encroaching heart disease. The scientists studied 1,600 British volunteers between the age group of 60 to 64 and wore heart sensors for five days. The sensors had analysed the activity levels of the participants and compared them to the indicators of heart disease like cholesterol precursors and also a substance known as the interleukin – 6. It was found that the participants with more activity had lower levels of all the negative biomarkers.
The effects were also noticeable when the researchers observed the participant’s activity in ten minute chunks. Spending just ten minutes in some kind of movement, be it walking, playing, tennis or gardening, was linked to measurable improvements in at least one type of biomarker that was related to the heart health. On the other hand spending every ten minutes sitting got worse biomarker results. Such results showed that physical activity can help in lowering the risk of heart related diseases. Ahmed Elhakeem, the author of the study said, “It’s important to replace time spent sedentary with any intensity level of activity”. Cardio and strength training have been related to anti-aging benefits.
Aerobic exercise gets the heart pumping and the sweat flowing while strength training helps the aging muscles from weakening over time. Both the exercises are important for the heart. Apart from heart, regular movements also has benefits for the aging brain as well.
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