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Secrets Of Life Long Health
By admin | July 29, 2007
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Almost 2 years ago, the three examining physicians at the head office of the Life Extension Institute made a thorough physical examination of this writer. They had him hop and jump and a do bakers dozen of things to stir his heart into action, then they listened with their tethoscopes and nodded knowingly to each other, finally gathering in a corner to whisper earnestly together, with many a meaning glance in the writer’s direction.The upshot of their conference was a solemn warning against all forms of violent exercise. The heart was dangerously affected, in their opinion. Tennis, golf, swimming — all these were taboo. Even running for a train was likely to result in a medical disaster.
If the writer wanted excitement, he might walk (as long as he did it slowly) or crawl about the floor on all fours! (I’m not kidding)
That was 2 years ago, remember?
A few months back, he had occasion to be examined for life insurance. The examining physician knew of the Life Extension Institute findings, so he asked the Head Examiner of his company to check his report. The Head Examiner came, made the same exhaustive heart tests as the Institute and put away his instruments with a chuckle.
“When you get ready to pass out,” he said, “they’ll have to take out that heart and hit it with a rock to make it stop beating. Work, play, do anything you like in reason. The heart can stand anything you can!”
What made the difference? What changed? Perhaps the following lesson may give you an indication…
The Role of Exercise in Longevity
Every health expert, health magazine and health book makes the claim that regular exercise is a major component in helping to slow down the aging process. But about two years back, this writer with cholesterol in the 250 range and fast approaching 50 years of age made a sharp u turn in his life.
Like most people I had every excuse under the sun why I couldn’t exercise… my doctors told me not too. But it was exercise that got my cholesterol down to 150 and it was exercising that literally saved my life!
Hard to believe that exercise could do all this and modern day medicine couldn’t, huh?
Well here’s the facts:
Recently a few high-powered research studies appear to have settled this important question. A recent study, referred to as the Harvard Alumni Study, appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study followed 17,000 middleaged Harvard graduates over 26 years, monitoring a number of variables, including exercise habits. The study concluded that those who exercised vigorously (jogging, swimming, cycling, tennis, etc) had a 25% lower death rate than those whom were more sedentary or who engaged in “non-vigorous” activity such as bowling, golf, and strolling.
Another Study…
The Framingham Heart Study, found that those who expended 2,000 calories per week had an increased life expectancy of 2 years. This means that a person who walks briskly for about 8 miles a week will live considerably longer than his counterpart with the same lifestyle who doesn’t exercise regularly. (get the point so far?)
Is Just Exercise Or Is It Chemicals?
One of the most important roles exercise plays in increasing life span is probably by increasing our body’s ability to neutralize free radicals. This breakdown of healthy cells by oxygen free radicals appears to be a key mechanism in many of the aging processes.
However, free radical production increases markedly during strenuous exercise, exposure to environmental factors (including sun), and probably during times of emotional stress.
Our bodies have systems to buffer and combat these molecules, but it appears that these protection systems become less effective as we age, making our bodies more and more vulnerable to their effects and resulting aging processes.
For instance:
* Muscle strength usually decreases by about 10% per decade after the age of 45
* Aerobic capacity (VO2max) declines 8-10% per decade after age 25 * Skeletal muscle mass generally decreases after the age of 40
* Immune system function begins a modest decline after 40, then falls more rapidly in both men and women by age 58 or 60.
Importantly, these losses seem to exactly parallel decreases in the body’s antioxidant defense systems. The two most important tools we have for preventing the increased free radical damage associated with aging are exercise and nutrition.
Exercise reduces the normal loss of the body’s free radical fighting antioxidant systems. Additionally, initiating an exercise program after the antioxidant potential of the body has been reduced can actually reverse some of the losses.
Balanced Nutrition Is The Second Answer
A balanced nutrition program with high levels of vitamins A,C and E, as well as the hundreds of naturally occurring antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables will also likely combat the increased free radical damage as one ages.
From a disease standpoint, regular exercise has been shown conclusively to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and depression.
Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, it enhances fitness, strength, flexibility, and body composition, and contributes greatly to an improved quality of life.
But what about me and my doctors?
Well I got nutrition counseling from Frank Sherrill and I got involved with the Bully Xtreme Home Gym ? Why the Bully you might ask?
Remember that I said I had every excuse under the sun? With the Bully Extreme that all changed… I purchased two of them.
I kept one in my office and one in my home, now there was no excuse! If you saw the pictures above… you saw the results.
How I used the Bully to get results like that will be the subject of my next article.
For a better look at the before and after pics please visit:
Bowflex Alternative Bully Extreme Home Gym
Your Pal,
Robert
Topics: Healthy Living |
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