Considering the alternative, isn’t it ironic that birthdays are something people dread?
A fact that makes this notion even sillier is that “passage of time” is only responsible for a small fraction of why we age.
Wanna guess what’s the single biggest contributor to age?
We are.
And many times, we don’t even know it.
For some inspirational fuel, I’m sharing some words of science-based wisdom about the four most common ways we age ourselves.
Exercise is not a chore. It’s a GIFT.
1. Lack of exercise ages us
According to David Sinclair, a Harvard professor and author of Lifespan: “Exercise turns on the genes to make us young again at a cellular level.” And the results are dramatic.
A British study of 2400 twins found that men and women who were less physically active had shorter telomeres – the part of each chromosome that shrinks with age- than their counter-parts.
Avoiding class because you’re lacking energy, tired or achey? Get Moving!
Lack of exercise has also been attributed as one of the leading causes of disease and inflammation.
Arthritis holding you back? Doctors unanimously agree that low-impact aerobic exercise is essential to getting your life back:
- Strengthens the muscles around your knees
- Keeps weight under control – Every one pound gained puts approximately 3 to 10 pounds of pressure on your knees on stairs.
- Maintains bone strength
- Increases energy level
- Decreases stress levels
- Improves sleep patterns
- Boosts self-esteem
2. Eating less to lose weight? This will AGE You
If you’re looking to lose a few lbs., the key is to eat better, not less. Crash dieting may have worked when we were teenagers, but it only worsens the situation as we age.
When we suddenly deprive our body of food, it naturally goes into shock and starts eating away at muscle – which is already deteriorating as we age. Initially we might lose a few lbs, but the muscle loss will cause the weight to eventually come back. This time it will be harder to lose. The only way back to a more fit physique is to do the work in the kitchen and at the gym.
- Eliminate prepared meals, convenience foods, store bought snacks, and replacing your meals with whole and natural choices will result in a lean, healthy body both inside and out.
- Eating whole, non-processed foods will ensure a feeling of being satisfied longer than processed, chemical and artificial choices.
- Load up on vegetables, water and fruit and you will see the results of your hard work
You may be wondering: If I exercise a ton, can I still eat a lot and live longer? Nope…Rats given high calories and high exercise saw minimal longevity benefits. Some level of hunger seems necessary to stress the mTOR system. Hunger plus exercise works great, however. (Darn!)
3. Our Mindset: We Start Acting Older Than We Are
“How old would you be if you did not know how old you were?”
Research shows that subjective age, how old we feel, is a strong predictor of health, memory, strength, and longevity.
In a landmark study, Ellen Langer placed older adults in an environment that recreated their younger years. They were asked to live as if they were decades younger.
Within days, measurable changes appeared:
- Improved memory and hearing
- Increased strength and flexibility
- Better posture and physical presence
Even outside observers noted that they looked younger. Behavior shapes biology more than we expect. Mojo anyone?
4. We Isolate Ourselves
No matter your age, people who are more socially connected to family, friends and community, are happier, healthier, and they live longer.
Relationships are vital – but not all of them. Laura Carstensen, founding director of Stanford’s Center on Longevity, has noted that bad relationships are more harmful than good ones that are positive.
“The only thing that really matters in life are the quality of your relationships with other people.”
Research has also shown that negative relationships can be more harmful than being alone, while positive ones support both mental and physical health.
Community, shared experience, and support all play a role in how we feel and function.
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