Defy Age Naturally

A study of British twins shows that exercise is one of the best stress relievers and is more important for combatting aging than genes. Physically active people are around 9 years younger on a cellular level than couch potatoes of the same real age!

Telomeres cap the ends of chromosomes. Every time a cell divides, telomeres gets shorter. When the telomeres get too short, the cell dies. As telomeres shorten and cells die, aging occurs. This may show up as weakening muscles, wrinkling skin, loss of hearing, impaired eyesight, suboptimal organ functioning, and unfocused, foggy thinking. Telomere length is a good marker of biological aging.

This study shows that we can be take control of this aging process, by exercising. Yes! More proof that we are not at the mercy of our genes!

Exercise appears to slow the shriveling of the protective tips on bundles of genes inside cells, keeping the body young and healthy.

2,400 twins’ telomeres along with their exercise habits were analyzed over a ten year period.

The length of the twins’ telomeres was directly related to their activity levels, the researchers found.

Those that did a moderate amount of exercise, around 100 minutes a week of activity, had telomeres that on average looked like those of someone about five or six years younger than those who did the least, about 16 minutes a week.

Those who did the most, around three hours a week of moderate to vigorous activity had telomeres that appeared to be about nine years younger than those who did the least. The more people exercised, the longer their telomeres.

Factors such as obesity, smoking and marital status were all taken into consideration.

How to Relieve Stress with Exercise

While exercise alone is anti aging, it is also one of the best stress relievers. Stress also causes our telomeres to shorten and our cells to die, so exercises such as yoga and Tai Chi that have been designed to fight stress on every level are probably particularly beneficial.

Just another reason to get up and get moving! Related Posts

• Cut Down on the Carbs to Look and Feel Younger

• The Free Radical and Antioxidant Story

• More reasons to get to your Nearest Yoga Class

At least as important as prolonging our life is making the most of our life and living our full potential. So many people spend their lives stressed out, depressed, or experiencing suboptimal health. Cherishing our bodies with good food, exercise and stress fighting practices will not only help us live longer, but will help us enjoy the time that we have on the earth. It will also help us stay looking young…which is a fabulous bonus in our youth admiring culture.

I recently met this amazing 80 year old man. He was a passionate musician who travelled around the country performing and I was so impressed by his enthusiasm for life.

Two days after meeting him, he died.

Isn’t that really how we all want to go…to live life to fullest right here in the now, with good health until the day we die?

I have to say that on the other hand, there is something magical about knowing that you are going to die. It also gives family and friends a chance to prepare for your death and say goodbye.

Ultimately, we have no idea what is going to happen in the future. Maybe we are going to get hit by a bus tomorrow. Then there are those strange specimens that seem to smoke, eat junk and do everything wrong who live past 90. We just don’t know.

In the meantime, I know that eating healthy food makes me feel better. I know that exercise and meditation makes me feel more carefree and able to live intuitively. And I believe that if I do have the pleasure to live many more years, these choices will keep me looking and feeling young and healthy. All that we can do is work on living our highest potential right here in the NOW!