Does Exercise Make You Younger?

Does exercise make you younger? Newer studies indicate that it does. If you want to grow younger instead of older, get off your couch and start running. Scientific discoveries show that an active body is an aid in rejuvenating cells. Every day, you replace some of your cells. Within ten years, you have an entirely new body. However, you can adjust the rate of cell replication and live longer and healthier by adding exercise to your daily regimen. 

Each type of tissue replaces itself at different rates. For instance, you'll have an entirely new blood supply in about 120 days but it may take up to ten years to replace all your bone cells. The outer layer of skin, your epidermis, replaces all the cells about every two weeks but it takes your liver about 300 to 500 days to become brand new. However, the studies indicate that exercise can increase the rate of replacement and slow the rate of decay, cell death.

Many scientists believe that the reason exercise adds youth giving serum to our bodies comes from understanding animals and our ancestors. It concerns genetic patterning and the urge to survive. When food is easily available, both man and animals often run more and are far more active. This normally occurs during warmer weather, growing season for most vegetation. However, carnivores also find food more plentiful at that time.

During the time of high activity, the body has excess nutrition and cell replacement is at a high. The increase in exercise is the stimulus for the body to increase cellular activity. As the days grow longer and the activity ceases, the cell replacement slows and the phase of cell death begins. Cell death means aging and disease.

In order to phase off aging, exercising six days a week with four of those days devoted to aerobic exercise and two to weight exercise can help turn back the clock. Instead of waiting ten years to reproduce all the cells in the body, your body replaces its cells sooner than the average, non-exercising person does.  It all has to do with the cytokines, the chemical messengers that control cell activity and even have a say in your immune system.

You don't need a lesson in genetics or biology to know that exercise is good for you; it's simply reassuring to know that it might make you younger. While the number of candles grows on your birthday cake, it doesn't mean you have to sit and wait for the grim reaper. You can give him a run for his money, literally, just by running. Those stiff and achy joints can grow new cartilage but there's a catch, as there always is. You have to move and provide the proper nutrition.

We all hear about how important nutrition is for the body and many a medicine cabinet shows how much people believe that's true. There are supplements for every type of nutrient and super food. However, the studies indicate that keeping your body active may be far more important than supplying the best nutrition. Although, you'd be hard pressed to build new cells based on a diet of Big Macs and fries. In fact, one estimate is that lack of exercise is worse for your aging process and risk of disease than smoking.

Another study showed that social interaction, even with a pet, decreased the aging process. In a remarkable serendipitous discovery, scientists found that animals even benefitted from interaction. In a lab test on diet, the bottom row of rabbits continuously proved to be healthier, regardless of their diet. The scientist thought it might be something to do with the height of the cage so they divided the cages into groups down the middle. The bottom row still proved healthier. One night, they found the answer. The cleaning woman played with the rabbits when she came in but was only tall enough to reach the bottom row.

You can use that information to your benefit. If you have a like-minded friend, share a day or two a week exercising with them. You can create your own gym at home and have exercise dates that include a healthy snack and great conversation following the workout. The scheduled time not only provides a social outlet, it also helps to insure your dedication to exercising that day. 

It's never too late to start an exercise program and many of the new pieces of exercise equipment make it even easier to do. If you're out of shape, have health issues or are older, start slowly and work your way up in time and intensity as your fitness warrants. Check with your physician before starting any regimen of exercise. There's no doubt he'll encourage you because the benefits are great. Once your start, you'll be able to answer the question, "Does exercise make you grow younger?" with a resounding yes!