My title is pretty bold. That’s impossible, right? A Ball State University study, although small in sample size (70 people), gives us a glimpse of what might be possible with our bodies.
In this study, healthy participants were divided into 3 groups: (1) 75 year olds who are lifelong exercisers averaging 4 – 6 days per week and 7 hours per week of exercise, (2) 75 year olds who occasionally exercise via leisurely walks or golf, and (3) 25 year olds who are also lifelong exercisers like group 1. When they put participants on an indoor bike and measured the participants’ maximum oxygen uptake which is an indication of aerobic endurance (VO2 max) and they also took a biopsy of a pea-size muscle to examine vessels, capillaries, etc., here were their findings:
- Group 1 (lifelong exercisers) at 75 years old had cardiovascular systems that looked 30 years younger. Interestingly, our ability to process oxygen declines by 10% each decade after age 30. There’s hope! We can put the breaks on aging.
- From the biopsy, they found that the 75 year old lifelong exercisers of Group 1 had the SAME muscle health as the 25 year old lifelong exercisers. We can look 25 at 75!
The key is to exercise 30 – 60 minutes a day. Unfortunately, 77% of Americans don’t come close to the federal guidelines of 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week.
If we want to travel, keep up with our kids/grandchildren, or live out our dreams when you’re old, well…we have to start now. How will you start to take care of your body so that you’ll age gracefully, be vibrant your whole life, and have fun with those you love? Life span is also much longer now. Can you imagine just sitting and watching the world as you age? I definitely plan on playing. Let’s focus on self-care first! Nutrition, sleep, and stress reduction is super important too.
If you need help understanding nutrition and all the mixed messages out there, give us a call. We will address your stress level, eating habits, exercise, cravings, emotional eating, and overall health and happiness. Start with a free health consultation at www.HappyFoodHealth.com or (619) 876-2655. See if this is the right match for you. I do things very differently to make health a natural lifestyle and this is not for everyone. Check out Yelp for other people’s opinion of Happy Food.
~ Samantha Hua, Nutrition & Holistic Health Coach, San Diego, CA
