The aging process simply stated, is a decrease in the volume and frequency of human cell regeneration over time. (regeneration – a new healthy cell takes the place of a failing cell)
Human cells have a limited lifespan of productivity and begin to fail over time. They are then replaced by fresh productive cells.
Childhood: cellular growth is 2 to 1 over those that fail, stimulating the body to physically grow and mature. There is more rapid cellular increase at birth slowly decreasing over time.
Early Adulthood: cellular growth levels off to an even replacement value (1 to 1), halting the increase of height and fundamental size.
Later Adulthood: cellular depletion increases as growth declines causing muscle and bone to lose strength and then function. Death occurs when cellular growth has completely discontinued.
* Exercise and healthy nutrition can stimulate “later life” cellular regeneration and actually reverse the aging process with long term, healthy life style choices and personal dedication to physical fitness. ex. putting stress on bone and muscle tissue through strength training (muscle building exercises) and moderate aerobic conditioning, causes increased bone density and strengthened cardiovascular (heart and lung) function.
Bodily Response to Exercise:
Bone adapts to greater physical demands by increasing its density and strength to accommodate these new requirements. Muscle Tissue adapts to greater physical demands with tiny micro-tears in the muscle itself. During recovery these micro-tears fill in with nutritionally provided protein (amino acids), increasing the size of the muscle and producing more strength.
By encouraging these adaptations of bone and muscle through increased demands on bodily performance (exercise and physical activity), we increase cellular growth and slow down the aging process.
Prevention of/Recovery from: Knee and hip repair/replace Not all but many knee and hip injuries and issues could be drastically reduced by: INCREASING RED MUSCLE TISSUE AND DECREASING FATTY TISSUE.
Excess body weight: more weight than the skeletal and muscular structure are intended to handle, causes imbalance, instability and malfunction of bodily components. ex. An upper torso that is too heavy for the legs and hips to support causes undue pressure on knees and hips, pushing the joints together eroding bone and cartilage. (knee/hip replacement) Solution/Physical Improvement: Increasing muscle tissue and strengthening bones with exercise and nutrition causes balanced posture, core stability and increases muscle strength. The ability to stand straight with natural posture relieves the pressure on joints reducing or reversing the degradation of bone and muscle tissue.
Prevention of/recovery from: Type II Diabetes Type II Diabetes is the body’s resistance to insulin over time. Insulin breaks down sugar to glucose, so our systems can use it for fuel. When normal amounts of insulin are not adequately processing sugar, extra amounts must be implemented via “insulin shots” to break down the excess. Excess body weight: increased fatty tissue is the bodily adaptation to over consumption of sugar and carbohydrate calories, and under active daily lifestyle. ex. Eating more sugar and carbs than the body needs for fuel causes the excess to be stored within the body as adipose or fatty tissue. This practice, over time will make the body resistant to insulin and diabetes occurs. Solution/Physical Improvement: By decreasing calories consumed and increasing physical activity, a decline in fatty tissue occurs. With less sugar to process, receptor sites are no longer overwhelmed and insulin sensitivity is restored.
Prevention of/Recovery from: Hypertension (high blood pressure) Hypertension has multiple environmental and genetic causes, that weaken the cardiovascular system. As this occurs, normal bodily functions become excessive demands on the cardiovascular system. ex. Sedentary lifestyle demands very little effort from your heart and lungs. When higher cardio output is required for an activity then the body can sustain, difficulty breathing, heart attack and stoke can take place.
Solution/Physical Improvement: Become More Active. The cardiovascular system’s adaptation to more demand is: increased lung strength/capability and increased size and strength of the heart. Increased demand (regular exercise introduced) stimulates enhanced cardiovascular ability and improved health.
Summary: An active lifestyle with continued physical challenge will increase cell production and reduce injury and illness.
Obesity alone causes all of these health issues and many more. Losing weight with healthy nutrition and exercise improves total quality of life.
Inactivity: Sedentary lifestyle is the number one contributor to poor health and dysfunction in body mechanics.
Unaware: Being unaware is how this all happens. We must make it a priority to educate the community on the importance of Healthy Lifestyle Choices and how to implement them daily.
This is how exercise and improved nutrition can have a positive impact on an individual’s quality of life and lesson the escalating burden of government subsidies. By setting physical fitness standards higher and making healthy nutrition paramount for all, we improve the individual’s odds for happy and productive lives.
Be Strong – Live Long – Look forward! -Mercedes
