We all know that working out and eating well are critical to maintaining a strong and healthy form. Science has also proven that people who have a poor diet and don’t go to the gym expedite their own aging at a cellular level. However, scientists last month revealed that physical activity isn’t just about staying neutral and not damaging yourself: it actually has anti-aging benefits.
Specifically, the Mayo Clinic study was interested in what’s called senescence, which occurs as a cell nears its death. During this period, the cell is incapable of division and starts to emit compounds that hurt nearby cells. Researchers wanted to determine whether an increase in exercise would slow down the rate of senescence. The Mayo Clinic data was first announced on April 28, during a meeting at the organization’s headquarters.
Studying the human lifestyle through mice
The study divided a population of mice into two different groups, one eating typical fast food ingredients and the other eating standard mouse food (the control). The mice eating the unhealthy diet suffered from circulatory disorders, prediabetic symptoms, and a reduction in workout motivation.
After five months, the fast food group had running wheels installed in their cages. Activity levels increased, extra pounds were lost, and heart health improved. Furthermore, the scientists’ hypothesis was proven correct: senescence was noticeably and consistently reduced.
Implications of the study for health & wellness
The findings of the study further demonstrate that the lifestyle decisions we make can, in fact, slow down the aging process.
In the researchers’ conclusions, they noted that poor dietary selections significantly increase the incidence of senescence. On the reverse side, exercise has the potential to push senescence back to a later time or keep it from happening altogether.
The researchers noted that anti-aging mechanisms will be better grasped as we develop a more complex sense of the connection between senescence and aging. Nonetheless, the experiment suggests that activity levels and dietary components strongly affect our levels of health and the rates at which we age.
Taking an integrated approach toward pain
As this study indicates, we can take control of our health & wellness to an extent that we had not previously realized. Exercise can slow down the aging process, and sophisticated strategies to manage pain include workout plans. That’s true of our pain management program at Atlantic Medical Clinic, where our multidisciplinary approach combines immediate relief with long-term results.