Premature Aging and Exercise

Millions of years ago the human body stressed about one thing, staying alive. Today we  stress about everything from getting ready in the morning, to driving home at night, to making dinner and finally getting ourselves into bed on time. Stress is among the biggest enemies attacking our cells and leaving our bodies tattered until we literally are withering away inside and out.

 

You can see markings of a stressful year on the rungs of an old cut down tree. We show similar dynamic markings of stress, deep down in the tiny molecules of our cells. The good, the bad and the ugly and how we’ve dealt with stress is something we need to pay attention to. Stress stimulates a process of cell degeneration and this is why scientists are studying our aging cells and exploring what to do about it..

 

Here are some of the signs due to stress:

• premature wrinkles

• bone degeneration (bone density)

• muscle degeneration (muscle tone)

• inflexibility in joints

• weight problems

• cardiovascular and respiratory problems

• diseases (cancer, diabetes, etc.)

• diseases of the eye (vision loss)

• blood pressure problems

 

Let’s take a look at what the Scientists are saying…

 

Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider and Jack W. Szostak are scientists who studied The Science of Aging Cells and Exercise in 1986 and won a Nobel prize for their presentation in 2009. They discovered chromosomes protect us against premature aging if you engage in a consistent active lifestyle.

 

Here’s the science…

 

DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid  is our self-replicating material in our body’s cells via chromosomes which carry our genetic information. Chromosomes live in your cells and harbour our DNA. These chromosomes can be damaged and cause changes in our DNA.   When we are young these chromosomes have active and healthy looking DNA, but as we age, the DNA snapshot isn’t so nice. Their findings were if you’ve lived a stressful life and have done nothing about, it will show in deterioration of the DNA. You can relax, because activating DNA with exercise will halt and even reverse some signs of aging.

 

Scientists are saying we can stave off aging by  protecting those cells from breaking down – by exercising regularly.

 

This is cool science!

 

A chromosome sturdy package of DNA protects our cells.

This beautifully organized structure of strands have a very valuable protective cap called the Telomere, pronounced, (teel-o-mere). It’s kind of like the plastic shoelace ends on your shoelaces that helps to stop them from falling apart. Telomeres are made of pieces of DNA enzymes called Telomerase which shield the chromosome and prevent it from unraveling, hence shortening. Having the Telomere shorten causes fraying and exposes the chromosome to damage.

 

The length of the chromosomes determines our rate of aging.

 

Since stress exasperates this structure and causes deterioration of the chromosome, this leads to premature aging. When the Telomere shortens, the cells can’t grow and divide anymore, so they lose their function. The length of our Telomere determines our rate of aging, hence the shorter our Telomeres  the earlier we will age. Premature Exercise and Aging

 

The purple Chromosomes showing very healthy red Telomeres.

 

Here’s a look of how these chromosomes are organized in our cells.

 

The Study!

 

The study done with three groups of people; one group was an active group that stayed active, the other was an inactive group that exercised, and the third group was inactive and never exercised.

 

The results!

 

The active groups didn’t just have longer Telomere, but considerably longer Telomere! These groups  whether they knew it or not were able to vent and let stress out by being active and exercising.

 

Look and feel younger just by exercising!

 

Yes we can slow down aging and keep some of our youth by exercising and walking briskly daily or by doing a strenuous aerobic activity 3 days a week and working off all that stress

 

Now you too can do something about it!

 

Age is just a number, so turn your life around and get active! All it takes is 3 days/week for 30 to 45 minutes running or run/walking or 20 minutes walking per day! Reverse signs of aging, maintain great health and join me learning to run using the run/walk method.

 

*Walking and running are excellent programs to keep stress away and can be done at any age!*

 

Sign up for my  free email updates at RunningMySpace  for tips and motivation! ~ It’s a  Beginners Running Program.

Articles Source:

Exercise and Telomere Length

Gill Fisher is Ultra Marathoner, a passionate runner, a motivator and coach for new runners.

She has an informative running blog at Runningmy.com

Connect with Gill on her Blog at RunningMySpace

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We welcome Gill Fisher as a guest blogger for Best Real Health! In the comment section below, let Gill know how you deal with stress and how exercise fits into your life.

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Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

(All information on this blog site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Information on this site has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.)

Copyright© 2014 Pat Moon – All Rights Reserved!

Tagged as: aging, cancer, cardiovascular, cell degeneration, diabetes, exercise, health, muscle, premature aging, run, stress, walk, weight