Many of us exercise in the pursuit of a particular physique to prevent weight gain or to keep fit. And of course because we know that regular exercise is key to good health.<\/p>\n
And arguably, good health is all about longevity and long-lasting youthfulness, right?<\/p>\n
Take a look at this \u2013 it\u2019ll make you want to get moving right away!<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0Longer telomeres mean you slow down ageing<\/strong><\/p>\n Scientists have identified the part of your DNA that\u2019s responsible for ageing \u2013 the grey hairs, the wrinkles, the achy joints… They\u2019re called telomeres.<\/p>\n Telomeres <\/a>are the caps on the ends of your chromosomes (which carry your genes). Every time a cell in your body divides, the telomeres shorten a little. Eventually, that cell runs out of telomere and it can\u2019t divide anymore. It dies.<\/p>\n Scientists have found that exercise can actually lengthen your telomeres and slow ageing! This is especially so if you combine this exercise with a healthy diet and good stress management.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0Your heart will thank you<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s a good reason why your doctor takes your pulse when you go for a check-up: he wants to see what your resting heart rate is. This tells him how hard your heart has to work to get oxygenated blood to the rest of your body. The higher the resting heart rate, the harder your heart is working to pump oxygenated blood to your body.<\/p>\n The average resting heart rate for an adult is somewhere between 70 and 75 beats per minute. If you\u2019re unfit, this will be higher \u2013 around 80 to 90 beats per minute. If you\u2019re fit, it will be in the 50s and 60s. 3.\u00a0Your immune system will thank you<\/strong><\/p>\n Regular exercise stimulates the body\u2019s production of white blood cells, which are responsible for preventing bacteria and viruses from entering the body.<\/p>\n Plus, when you exercise, your lymph nodes (the little glands that move lymph around the body to collect and remove toxins) are stimulated to remove more toxins, faster.<\/p>\n Once your body has rid itself of toxins, it\u2019ll function better for longer.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0You\u2019ll sleep better<\/strong><\/p>\n Getting a good night\u2019s sleep <\/a>is not only good for your body in terms of recovery from exertion. It also means your body\u2019s hormones are in balance. After all, if your levels of stress hormone are too high, you\u2019ll battle to wind down and fall asleep (and your quality of sleep will be poor).<\/p>\n Exercise is a powerful way to rid the body of excess cortisol (among others). And this facilitates healthy sleep cycles. Which in turn promotes good health and longevity.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve always understood the power of exercise, and now want to help others enjoy this power too, consider a career as a personal trainer. Check out the Comprehensive Personal Training Certification <\/a>offered by Trifocus Fitness Academy.<\/p>\n
\nRegular exercise (especially aerobic <\/a>or cardio) lowers your resting heart rate. And doctors believe that this lengthens your life.<\/p>\n