Yes, it’s true!
Forget anti-aging creams and focus on regular exercise and a healthy diet.
How can we prove that exercise slows down aging?
Through a study conducted by the University of Birmingham and King’s College London.
Scientists studied the health of adults who had exercised for most of their lives. Their goal was to determine whether this could slow down aging.
The study included 125 amateur cyclists aged 55 to 79, comprising 84 men and 41 women.
They underwent a series of laboratory tests and were compared to adults who do not engage in regular physical activity.
The results were incredible!
The study showed that the loss of muscle mass and strength did not occur in those who exercised regularly.
The cyclists also did not gain body fat or see an increase in cholesterol levels as they aged, and their testosterone levels remained high.
But that’s not all…
What surprised the scientists most was the fact that these people had an immune system that seemed not to have aged.
Professor Stephen Harridge, Director of the Center for Human and Aerospace Physiological Sciences at King’s College London, stated that:
“Their bodies were allowed to age optimally, free from the problems normally caused by inactivity. Take away the activity, and their health would likely deteriorate.”
Professor Janet Lord, Director of the Institute of Inflammation and Aging at the University of Birmingham, said that:
“Hippocrates, in 400 BC, said that exercise is man’s best medicine, but his message has been lost over time, and we are an increasingly sedentary society.”
“Our findings debunk the assumption that aging automatically makes us more frail.”
Norman Lazarus, Professor Emeritus at King’s College London, and Dr. Ross Pollock (both cyclists who participated in the study), state that:
“Most of us don’t even come close to having the psychological capabilities of elite athletes.”
“Find an activity you enjoy in an environment that suits you and make it a regular exercise habit. Later, you’ll reap the rewards by enjoying an independent and productive later life.”
This last sentence is the message we want to leave you with.
Our goal in sharing this study is not to turn all our readers into cyclists.
Regardless of the physical activity you engage in, you can enjoy these benefits. The key to this is to be consistent, just like the 84 men and 41 women who participated in this study. Physical activity over the years is what allowed them to achieve the incredible results observed in this study.
So, find an activity you enjoy and get started now!
