Ageing brings change—some welcome, others more challenging. While many imagine retirement as a time to relax and enjoy the rewards of a life well lived, the reality can include physical, mental, and emotional hurdles. With ageing comes problems that range from physical, mental, to emotional. The more a person ages the weaker their body becomes and mostly the solutions to this process are advertised as a healthy diet and physical activity.
Now, Dr Eric Topol, cardiologist and longevity researcher, who appeared on The Mel Robbins Podcast has revealed one habit that can play a vital role in the ageing process.
According to Topol, exercise is the ultimate solution that helps to slow down ageing at a cellular level. While exercise is a popular answer, its vast benefits may surprise you.
Exercise can help reduce the biological age
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The body has two kinds of age- chronological and biological. While chronological is the time you have spent being alive, biological is the age of your body which is based on a physical and cellular level and can be different from chronological. Usually, a lower biological age is symbolic of better health.
And, according to Dr Eric, an epigenetic clock can predict your biological age. If your chronological age is 70 and your epigenetic age is 60, “you’ve hit the jackpot”, said the doctor.
“Exercise is the only thing we know that lowers our biological age” claimed the doctor. As a cardiologist, he has been prescribing aerobic exercises like walks or treadmill, bicycle, elliptical, thirty minutes a day, five days a week. But he also shared that there is striking data that proves resistance training to be effective as well.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, regular exercises such as low intensity walking and resistance training can reduce the risk of major diseases including major cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Another study stated how exercising has a positive impact not only on physical functioning but also on brain centers and the executive control they exercise.
The ideal amount of exercise
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As per Dr Eric, 30 minutes of exercise 5 times a week, ideally every day is the minimum physical effort you must put in for your body. Additionally, not just aerobic exercises but make use of equipment like bands to increase resistance. Focus on aspects such as strength, balance, and posture. When you include it in your routine, you’ll begin to notice “Wow! I am fit” said the doctor.
