Nowadays, it’s more important than ever to maintain an active lifestyle – especially as we grow older. It’s crucial to our overall well being. And study after study shows it’s far easier to remain active into your later years when you’re not suffering from frequently debilitating age-related or disease-related pain.
But, as our bodies age, our bodies naturally begin to show signs of wear and tear – ranging from creaky joints to arthritis and other complications. So how do you maintain an active, pain-free lifestyle? Here’s how.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms regular exercise is critical to staying healthy. Thirty minutes a day of moderate physical activity five days a week can help achieve or maintain healthy body weight; it can also stave off diabetes, some types of cancers and heart problems.
Now, “regular exercise” doesn’t necessarily mean a strict regimen of three-hour daily workouts in the gym. It does, however, mean participating in some form of muscle-strengthening activity (working each of the major muscle groups: chest, shoulders, arms, legs, hips, back and abdomen) at least twice a week, as well as a minimum of two and a half hours of aerobic activity (such as brisk walking) each week.
Ideally, you will want to incorporate some moderate to vigorous aerobic activity into your daily routine. Moderate activity will raise your heart rate and make you breathe harder; you should be able to carry on a conversation with an exercise partner, but not necessarily sing along with your favorite song on your iPod. Vigorous exercise will raise your heart rate significantly. You’ll also find that carrying on a conversation is impossible; saying more than a few words will make you want to stop to catch your breath.
Ideally, you should aim for thirty minutes a day of aerobic exercise five days a week. But don’t fret if you can’t fit in thirty minutes all at once. Even a brisk ten-minute walk will yield results. So, plan to carve out ten-minute increments three times a day. In addition to the obvious cardio benefits, you’ll raise your energy level and give your metabolism a jump start while you take a little break from your daily work schedule.
Strength training can mean weight lifting or exercises like pushups or sit-ups; but it can also include activities such as yoga or gardening (e.g., digging, pulling weeds).
In addition to the physical-activity component, there are a variety of nutritional supplements that can aid you in your quest for overall health and well being into your later years. Commonly used supplements include glucosamine and chondroitin; other products containing a blend of natural ingredients have been shown to promote joint health and slow the effects of aging on the human body, as well.
A combination of Vitamin C, boron, glucosamine, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and gelatin helps restore joints’ structural integrity and mobility, while repressing inflammation that can lead to pain and swelling. An effective antioxidant, Vitamin C works to inhibit the free-radical load, addressing the inflammation issue; glucosamine and gelatin work in concert to enhance joint mobility and flexibility.
For more information about maintaining an active lifestyle and staving off the painful effects of aging, visit www.SportsNutrition.com. With a full range of nutritional and health supplements, SportsNutrition.com can meet the informational and health needs of fitness enthusiasts and those interested in maintaining healthful lifestyles and living their best every day.