Serums, facials, sunscreen, a healthy diet—all these should sound familiar to you and be a part of your anti-ageing routine, but did you know exercise is also an important component in the formula for achieving overall wellness and a heavy artillery against the effects of ageing?
It is a well known fact that exercise, particularly cardio, boosts oxygen flow and improves our cardiovascular health. This is why we always leave the gym with an enviable glow and for those of us who exercise regularly, we would be used to seeing the glow in the mirror. This has been backed by studies which have also shown that regular exercise improves our quality of life and decreases stress, which would promote an improvement in our overall well being.
Another less known positive benefit of improved blood circulation is an increase in the elimination of toxins by our vitals. An improved overall circulation boosts the rate at which toxins are expelled naturally from our body, promoting better overall health and reducing the negative effects of toxins. Exercise also oxygenates the cells at a cellular level and apart from promoting a healthy glow, may to some degree, reduce acne breakouts.
Now that we know the benefits that regular exercise can have on ageing, it is important to note that apart from consistency, the nature of the workout we select may also play an important role. A study has shown that regular aerobic exercise and HIIT exercises can promote an increase in the length of telomere, this was compared to a control group and a group that did only resistance workouts. This is good news for the majority of us as incorporating some form of aerobic exercise into our daily routine is easily achievable. For instance, getting off one or two stops earlier and walking briskly is an easy way to incorporate some form of aerobic activity. Bear in mind that we would have to be consistent and aim to achieve at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity on most days of the week.
However, there is also ample evidence that resistance or strength training has a positive effect on anti-ageing at a cellular level. This is especially true from the age of forty when we begin to lose muscle mass and our cellular functions begin to become sluggish. Strength training has been proven to reverse ageing at a cellular level by improving insulin resistance and promoting higher energy levels. This also helps us maintain better mental function well into our older ages.
So what is the best way to exercise to complement our overall anti-ageing routine? The truth is, a combination of both forms of exercise would probably be the best approach for most of us. Rotating them would also reduce monotony and diversify our exercise programmes.
Happy Exercising!
