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July 23, 2007
Turning Back Your Age
Resistance training not only makes you feel and look better, but also it can reverse aging, making muscles younger through regular workouts, according to researchers from the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, California and McMaster University Medical School in Hamilton, Ontario. They claim the proof is in "genetic fingerprints" that show that human tissue becomes younger after resistance training.
The study: Twenty-five healthy men and women with an average age of 70 engaged in twice-weekly, one-hour resistance training for six months using standard gym equipment. In addition, 25 students from McMaster University with an average age of 26 participated. Before-and-after tissue samples were taken from the thigh muscle of each participant. First, here's a lesson from Biology 101: Mitochondria act as the "powerhouse" of cells. Using the tissue samples, the researchers conducted gene expression profiles involving age-specific mitochondrial function. Multiple studies have suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in the loss of muscle mass and functional impairment commonly seen in older people. The study was the first to examine the gene expression profile, or the molecular "fingerprint," of aging in healthy disease-free humans. (Netscape editors.)
Here are nine specific ways you can add 30 years to your life.
9 ways to add 30 years to your life:
5 years: Don't smoke
It's not cool to smoke. You smell, your teeth turn yellow, your skin looks like leather and your voice gets low and raspy. It also gives you lung cancer. Ick.
5 years: Eat power foods
It's all about the antioxidants. Every day you should eat a handful of dark chocolate and almonds, as well as fruits, vegetables, garlic and even a glass of wine.
4 years: Skip the fast food
Drive past the McDonald's and Wendy's without stopping and you'll live a lot longer since you're not ingesting all that fat and cholesterol.
3 years: Get moving
Run for 30 minutes, five days a week and you can live up to four years longer. If you walk, you'll add three years.
3 years: Get married
Numerous studies have shown that married people are happier and healthier. Why? They take care of each other. Face it, most men see a doctor because their wives made the appointment and told them to go.
3 years: Eat salmon twice a week
Eating fatty fish that contains omega 3 fatty acids, such as wild salmon, herring, mackerel and sardines, not only appears to lower your risk of Alzheimer's disease, but also helps control triglyceride levels and inflammation.
3 years: Lose the fat
You'll not only look and feel better, but you'll be healthier if you lose weight. Being overweight increases your risk of death by 20 to 40 percent. Now that's motivation!
3 years: Have sex
Having sex two to three times a week helps you live longer by cutting in half your risk for heart disease and stroke. How? Sexual intercourse burns about 200 calories, which is the same as running for 30 minutes.
1 year: Floss daily
The greatest benefit of regular flossing is healthy gums. Research has shown that gum inflammation is linked to heart disease. Keep your gums healthy and your heart may follow.
Posted by Post Scripts at July 23, 2007 08:43 AM