It is a question that has been asked a million times. Does working out slow down aging? In this article, we are going to discuss the reasons that working out actually does slow down aging, and how you can take advantage of it.
If you have never entered the world of physical fitness, you are in for a treat. While at first it might be a drag, you will soon realize that the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
Before we get into this, I recommend downloading our app All Workouts: Personal Trainer (iOS | Google Play). You will find that our FREE workout plans are going to be extremely beneficial to your fitness journey.
Endorphins released during workouts slow down aging
For those that don’t know, endorphins are like your own happy pills that your body naturally produces. Some people have more, some people have less. What science can tell us is that extra endorphins are released when you exercise.
And further, endorphins are released at an elevated pace throughout the remainder of the day.
What can this tell us? Well, for one, we can make the connection that working out makes us happier. And when your body releases endorphins, maybe that is a sign that you are doing something good for your body.
Furthermore, evidence suggests that endorphins slow down aging by decreasing the production of free radicals in your body. This is kind of a big deal. Naturally, this means that it is not only possible, but it is inevitable that increased endorphin production will slow down aging.
Here is the thing. Working out is good for you on so many different levels. Endorphin production is just one of them. Another thing that we must consider is that lack of endorphins causes stress. And chronic stress leads to accelerated aging.
This is obviously not something that we want to experience. The best thing to do here is to make sure that you are working out at least 3 days per week to get the minimum benefits of endorphin production.
Be sure to check out our list of exercises that release endorphins.
Engaging your muscles slows down aging
Working out can mean a plethora of different things these days. Are you going for a run? Weight Lifting? High intensity interval training? The list goes on. The common theme between all of these exercise categories is that they all engage your muscles in some form or another.
Weight lifting is personally my favorite form of engaging my muscles, but that doesn’t mean it is going to be your favorite. The key here is to determine what works best for you and your lifestyle.
Thankfully, we have a ton of resources right here on this blog to help you get started. If you are interested in weightlifting, you might want to check out our beginner bodybuilding routine for mass.
Or maybe you would prefer trying some HIIT workouts at home. We also have those. Check out 4 of the best high intensity interval training workouts for beginners at home.
We also understand that not everyone has access to a gym. Maybe you would prefer to just workout at home. That’s where our 3 days a week workout plan at home comes into play.
As you can see, there are no excuses for not knowing what to do. You have plenty of options right here in front of you.
It’s no secret that engaging your muscles is good for you, but does working out slow down aging? As we progress through this article, you will find that the evidence is overwhelming. Yes in fact, working out does slow down aging, and it is in your best interest to choose something to do.
Working out increases bone density
The results of working out are usually measured by physical changes that can be seen with our own eyes. For example, when you lose weight, it is clear that you lost weight, to both yourself and others.
When you build muscle, this is also something that you can easily measure.
What is often misunderstood, or just not talked about, is the fact that working out increases bone density.
Not only does working out increase bone density, it does so the same way that building muscle does. When you build muscle, your bones are also becoming more dense.
You might not appreciate this as much as building some solid muscle, but the benefits are greater than you think. Having a solid bone density, you will find that it is more difficult for you to get injured.
Furthermore, bones become naturally fragile over time. This is called osteoporosis. You can slow down or eliminate this condition by working out.
If that isn’t enough to convince you, how about the fact that inactivity is going to lead to loss of bone.
Overall, as you age, your body is going to start betraying you. But by working out, you can slow down this process significantly. Don’t be one of those people who thinks it’s not going to happen to them.
We all age, and I am sure you have seen an older person who is in shape. They seem happier and healthier. Mostly because they are.
Exercise increases hand/eye coordination
This doesn’t seem like something that would help slow down aging, but it totally is. The better your hand/eye coordination is, the better you are going to move. This of course decreases your chances of injury.
Working out improves your hand/eye coordination by forcing you to focus on your muscles and movements. This in turn will ensure that you walk better, go up stairs better, etc… Which ultimately reduces your chance of injury.
As we age, our hand eye coordination naturally gets worse. Anything that we can do to combat this inevitability is going to be an asset.
Main Point: Does working out slow down aging?
By now, you should understand the answer to our question, does working out slow down aging? Physical fitness is one of the best things that you can do to slow down aging. Our bodies usually take care of themselves until our 30’s or 40’s.
Anything after our 40’s, it’s up to us to do what we can to improve our position in life and slow down aging.
Working out is going to get you there. Starting with an increase in bone density, you will notice that your body will adapt to your new routine. Remember that bone density can be cultivated, just like growing your muscles.
The first thing that I mentioned in this article was that exercise releases endorphins. And endorphins make you happy. Science has proven that happy people live longer and look younger. It turns out, that is because endorphins actually slow down aging.
Who doesn’t want to be happy and look younger?
When you engage your muscles, no matter what exercises you are doing, it is going to slow down aging. This is because when you are not working out, your muscles are going to atrophy. Which is just a fancy word for shrivel up and become weak. You don’t want that.
So what can we do with all of this information? The best thing to do is get started and learn how to make exercise a habit. Take this information and get started.
You will be surprised at how much younger you can look when you are in shape.
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