It’s not breaking news that physical activity is good for you. However, scientists have recently discovered that exercise is far more beneficial than we previously realized. They’re also learning just how unhealthy a sedentary lifestyle is.
Yet the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently collected survey data from more than 450,000 adults and found that nearly 80% of US citizens do not get the recommended amounts of exercise each week, setting themselves up for years of health problems.
Exercise slows or reverses muscle loss, weight gain, artery hardening, joint stiffening, even glaucoma. Regular physical activity cuts your lifetime risk for general dementia by almost 50%. It even lowers your odds of getting Alzheimer’s by almost 60%.
Weight training combats sarcopenia, changing the dynamics of aging. However, it is aerobic fitness, not strength training, that is most closely tied to health benefits. You don’t need fancy equipment or an expensive gym membership. Just a pair of comfortable shoes. Aside from walking or running, you can use your body’s own mass for strength training, doing push-ups, pull-ups, squats or planks, anywhere at any time.
Physical activity is one of the best, easiest and cheapest ways to decrease your mortality risk. It is one of the most powerful anti-aging tactics we have. When combined with a plant-based, whole foods diet, exercise can dramatically improve the way you look, the way you feel and how long you live.
Sven Franssen