Fit Fact: Exercise may slow the aging process

If you struggle to motivate yourself to exercise, maybe I can convince you with this fact: A sedentary lifestyle can actually speed up the aging process. Now, other things can contribute to that, such as smoking and being overweight, but in this study, researchers focused on exercise while measuring the internal aging system in a group of participants - some who were active and some who weren't.

This marker they measured is called leukocyte telomere length (say that ten times fast). The longer LTL is, the younger (biologically) you are and, according to this study, being active translates to a longer LTL. Now, my mom says exercise makes her feel young, but it sure doesn't take the place of a face lift (as if she really needs one). That may be true, but even she can't deny that feeling young (face lift or not) is nothing to sneeze at.

The study didn't mention what kind of exercise participants were involved in, but it's a sure bet that a regular cardio program as well as strength training will certainly do the trick. The point is, any activity you can add to your life may just add years to your life.

You can visit my Workout Center for workout ideas and check out the resources below for more information about staying young and fit.

More Resources

• Combat the Effects of Aging with Exercise
• Tips for Staying Young
• Free E-Course: Anti-Aging and Staying Young
• Foods for Living Longer and Better

_Sources

Cherkas, Lynn F. PhD, et al. The Association Between Physical Activity in Leisure Time and Leukocyte Telomere Length. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(2):154-158.