Getting older is one of the things we all fear in life. Will we be able to walk normally, drive, be mentally stable? If you’re one of the people who worries about getting older there is some good news, exercise can actually help to slow down the process of aging in multiple aspects.
Here’s some of the most important ways exercise helps to keep your body young and full of life.
Helps Rebuild Muscle Mass and Strength
As people get older, they suffer from a condition called sarcopenia, which breaks down muscle mass and strength. One of the best ways to counteract the process is to engage in resistance training which maintains and increases muscle mass and power.
The practical results from resistance training will help you remain functional as you get older, like opening heavy doors or jars. You’ll also be able to do normal activities like cooking, walking, and cleaning a lot easier, if you keep up with resistance training.
Research has been conducted that shows resistance training doesn’t increase any risk of injury for older adults, so it’s safe to participate if you’re feeling cautious.
Rejuvenates Skin Health
Blood flow is the lifeline of our skin cells, and the healthier flow we have, the healthier our skin tends to be. That’s because the increase in blood flow brings more oxygen to the skin cells and helps eliminate any waste in the cells.
Of course, using some kind of anti-aging skincare cream in conjunction with your workouts can rejuvenate your skin even more. Not only that, but when you exercise you’re opening up the pores in your skin and the excess sweating helps to purge any unwanted toxins from your body.
Exercise creates radiant skin, and combined with Senté’s patented Heparan Sulfate Analog (HSA) skincare products, you can help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for younger-looking skin.
Increases Bone Density
Once we reach the age of about 30 people begin losing the ability to replace old bone mass. Until that point, our body effortlessly replaces any lost bone mass with new bone mass. Exercising early in life, specifically weight bearing exercises, can increase your bone mass and prevent early onset of osteoporosis.
Nearly half of all adults above the age of 50 are at risk of osteoporosis, so completing weight-bearing exercises is a huge way to keep your body healthy, and your bones in one piece.
Although people can’t gain new bone density as they get older, exercising will help prevent more bone mass loss and keep your body functioning better.
Helps Improve Cognitive Functions
When we age, it’s incredibly important to stay active so that our brain function can remain in peak states. Without exercise of any kind, our brain’s cognition can slowly deteriorate, and we can become susceptible to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Exercise has been shown to slow down or prevent these types of brain cognitive diseases from happening as we get older. Exercise also produces what is called myokines in the brain, which have several benefits when released in the brain.
Working Out to Prevent Aging
There’s no denying that staying active and exercising can have a number of positive effects on the body as you get older and help prevent the normal signs of aging. Our skin, brain, muscles, and even bones can all benefit from maintaining a healthy exercise routine daily.
Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and world of fitness.
