Aging Better: Benefits of Health and Physical Fitness as a Daily Routine

Aging Better: Benefits of Health and Physical Fitness as a Daily Routine : Did you know that more than two-thirds of adults in the United States are obese or overweight? This is a striking statistic considering the means that most people have to perform regular exercise across the country.

Maintaining optimal health is crucial to aging gracefully, meaning, it could be the very thing that keeps you out of a nursing facility, putting you at risk of inadequate care such as falls, bedsores, and neglectful medication errors which often result in lawsuits.

Above all, taking care of yourself and keeping a regular fitness regimen is important not only for maintaining health, but this is also crucial for your overall well-being and helps reduce premature aging.

Too many people today disregard the advice of doctors and nutritionists when it comes to eating properly, and many suffer the consequences later in life.

Here, we’ll explore the importance of health and fitness as you age, and a few of the best exercises.

Why Does it Matter?

When you exercise, you release vital chemicals that comprise the “feel good” cocktail for your body. Endorphins, serotonin, and adrenaline all work together to provide you with a feeling of well-being, and this also greatly improves your overall physical condition.

Your immune system is boosted when you exercise, and this system is vital for fighting off diseases, harmful bacteria, and for staying healthy. Working out also reduces stress which is known to suppress the human immune system.

At the end of the day, you’re not only strengthening your muscles and your cardiovascular system when you engage in physical fitness activities, but you’re also enabling yourself to go through life in a healthier state of being, and this is fundamental for living well during your golden years.

Swimming

Perhaps one of the most overlooked exercises is swimming. When you swim, you’re not only strengthening your respiratory and cardiovascular system, you’re working out your entire body in the process.

Additionally, swimming is one exercise that is the easiest on your body. In the place of running or biking, swimming isn’t nearly as hard on the feet and joints, and you’re not as subject to physical injury while you’re suspended in water.

For those who have reached their golden years, regularly swimming laps each day can have a wonderful effect on your overall health, and you’ll be able to keep fit as you age.

Aerobics

Where swimming is probably the most enjoyable exercise that keeps your entire body in shape, doing aerobics is just as beneficial, but requires a bit more stamina and endurance.

Aerobic exercises generally don’t rely on the use of free weights or anything of the like. Instead, your typical aerobic, cardio workout might include running in place, jumping rope, or a combination of various calisthenic exercises that greatly benefits the heart and the entire cardiovascular system.

As you age, your circulation begins to deteriorate in certain parts of the body, generally beginning in the lower extremities. Keeping a routine aerobic workout regimen can greatly assist you with maintaining optimal circulation, and will also keep the muscles toned and conditioned as you age.

15-Minute Workouts

You really don’t need to go and spend 4 hours in the gym every day in order to stay in shape. Unless you’re trying to win a bodybuilding competition, all you really need to do is spend around 15 minutes a day exercising, and even the busiest person on the planet can spare 15 minutes.

Keeping your body conditioned surprisingly takes very little effort, and you can alternate exercises each day just to keep it interesting.

Common exercises to consider for a quick 15-minute workout might include doing a few sets of pushups, core exercises, dips, using resistance bands to keep your biceps and triceps toned, or even running in place. The options are plentiful when it comes to a quick workout, and you’ll instantly feel much better once you finally break a sweat.

So, if you’re pressed for time, schedule in 15 minutes a day, and this alone can greatly benefit your overall health as you age.