Scientists have known for years that people who exercise live longer. They have seen it in their blood markers and other measurements. But recently scientists noticed that the cells of those who exercise are actually younger.
Exercise actually make your DNA younger. Not only does it make the DNA appear younger but exercise might be more important than even genetics (what you were born with) in terms of the age of the cell.
“Specifically, investigators measured the length of telomeres -- the DNA on either end of thread-like chromosomes. Each time a cell divides, telomeres get shorter. When telomeres get too short, cells can no longer divide and they die. Researchers found that telomere length was related to activity level. People who engaged in the most exercise had telomeres of similar length to inactive people up to 10 years younger.”
Essentially what they are saying is this: each time the cell divides, the telomres get shorter. When they get too short, the cells die. When too many cells die, you die. People who exercise have telomeres longer than people who don’t.
Fasting slows cell division too, but that’s another article.
The researchers also noted you don’t need to run 50 miles a week to get the benefits.
“…active people had cells that were measurably younger than inactive people,” he says. “This striking finding may explain how exercise helps prevent heart attacks, diabetes and other degenerative diseases.””
Full article here.
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