Live Longer: Long Life For All!

Running May Help You Live Longer August 12, 2008

A new study carried out in the US suggests that regular exercise through running or jogging can slow down the signs of aging. The study examined 500 older runners for more than 20 years, and found that the runners on average entered disability 15 years later and also were 50% less likely to die from sudden onset illness such as cancer.

Perhaps surprisingly the scientists at the Archives of Internal Medicine found no evidence that the runners needed more knee replacement surgeries over time, or other bone damage from the impact of running.

The general consensus is that exercise can help you live longer, and should be regularly pursued not only by younger people, but also as we get older. Of course as with any lifestyle change, it is important that if you start exercising again that you consult your doctor first, as rapid changes in activity levels can be detrimental to your health.

Happy (and long lived) jogging!

Clean Your Way to a Longer Life April 10, 2008

A new scientific study has suggested that just 20 minutes sustained exercise a week - whether jogging or cleaning your house - can significantly reduce depression. In the same journal, another study suggests that regular sustained exercise can reduce the symptoms of old age. Keeping the body and mind active seems to be key to these results, with people who maintain a more sedentary, inactive life are more greatly impacted by their age.

Unfortunately ‘20 minutes sustained exercise’ does not mean a gentle stroll to the bus stop, to get the effects you need to induce at least some level of breathless-ness. Heavy sweeping and scrubbing will do the trick, but running a cloth over your shelves probably won’t. Scientists are also unsure as to the relationship between the exercise, how it affects depression and how it affects our youthfulness. It could be that staying active and in a ‘flow’ state releases pleasurable endorphins, reducing depression - and being happier naturally keeps us above our body’s aging process. Or alternatively it could be that people more inclined to do activities and live longer are less inclined towards depression. From my own personal experience I know that the less active I am, the more negative my world view becomes - with regular exercise important to my own life balance. However my 90 year old gran has never been a big one for exercise, enjoying rather the comforts of her sofa, knitting and East Enders on the telly. She does smile a lot though.

Disclaimer: As always, Long Life Blog’ post cannot be taken as medical advice. Before you undertake a change in your diet or exercise regime please consult a qualified doctor, as dramatic changes to our lives can have more downsides than upsides.

Changing Habits to Live Longer April 7, 2008

To live longer we need to work out what changes we want to make to our lives, and then carry out that changes - regularly, every day, for the rest of our new, longer life. For the lucky amongst us, blessed with an excess of willpower, that’s just another day. For most of us though, changing ingrained habits is harder work than we’d like. Now research has even indicated that when we try and use our willpower in a new area (such as shopping less) then our limited supply of willpower gets transferred from somewhere else (eating healthily). Thankfully even in these situations exercising our willpower leads to an increased supply to draw from, so it’s not all bad.

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Push-ups: A classic indicator of fitness and body age March 14, 2008

For years physical eduction teachers around the world have taught push-ups to complaining children everywhere. No one seems to really enjoy this form of exercise, which turns out to be a shame as it is still considered to be one of the best tests of overall body fitness, and hence ‘body age’.

The Washington Post had a great break-down of where you should be for push-ups depending on your age, as well as details on how to carry out a push up and figures for women’s modified push-ups (I won’t embarrass myself by telling you my scores):

Men: Push Ups (Full Body)

Women: Full Push-ups