Feeling younger is not just a matter of staying fit, you need to stay strong.
We have known for a long time that maintaining our muscle mass is the key to healthy ageing. More muscle improves insulin sensitivity, lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease, improves your metabolism; these are only a few of the reasons to maintain your muscle mass.
Now there is another new reason to lift weights.
Our muscles produce an anti-aging molecule when we exercise. This molecule, called Cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor (CLCF1), helps to preserve our muscle strength, bone density and metabolism as we get older.
But there is one important component to stimulating this molecule.
When we are young, our bodies send signals in the form of myokines, and CLCF1 is one of these messengers. Young muscles release a lot of CLCF1 when we exercise, but older muscles, not so much. When we do resistance training or high-intensity training, we release CLCF1 immediately after exercise, and those who are more active have higher resting levels of this important molecule. As we age, aerobic exercise, like walking, doesn’t increase the levels of CLCF1, even if done for a long time.
However, there is good news. When researchers had older adults follow a 12-week, three times a week strength training program, they saw a boost in their CLCF1 levels. They also saw improvements in their muscles and bones; they were rejuvenated.
More evidence that if you want to feel younger, stay strong.
Change your mind, change your health,
Shayla
Eat better, live better and feel better.
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