Exercise for Your Most Cherished Memories
Exercise is a dreaded word for many Americans, we all know that we should do it for the sake of our health, but beyond simply controlling weight, many of us don't know how it can be beneficial, but more information might just offer more motivation for seniors and people of all ages who need evidence that getting off the couch and putting aside that bowl of chips will benefit them long-term. Even then it might seem easier said than done; exercise can be hard to fit into a busy lifestyle, and for seniors, it can be physically burdensome. But we all need to take a long hard look at what we want out of life - do we want to find our lives cut short, or lead one that's unfulfilled because we've neglected to look after the needs of our bodies and minds?
If you're someone who needs evidence to convince you it's worth the sacrifice to begin an exercise program, then let's talk about how it can benefit you directly. Of course, the obvious benefits relate to the body; it shouldn't surprise you to hear that by exercising you can control your weight, prevent diseases and illnesses, improve your cardiovascular health, and aid with digestion. What you might not know is that exercise also has extensive benefits to the mind as well, according to recent studies which have shown that active seniors have decreased instances of Alzheimer's disease.
To exercise your mind through exercising the body, it doesn't really matter what exercise you choose. Seniors can try walking, hiking, jogging, swimming, cycling, aerobics, resistance training activities and virtually anything that raises the heart rate. It's been proven that there's a direct link between brain mass and exercise and since cognitive decline occurs more predominantly in those seniors who have a decreased brain mass the benefits speak for themselves. Since many other health issues can also influence brain functioning, everything that exercise does plays a role in keeping seniors minds fresh and healthy. Exercise for seniors keeps the heart pumping, the blood flow to the brain moving, lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol and increases insulin sensitivity.
Now that you understand the how, it's the why you should exercise to improve your mind that's important. Next time you opt to keep yourself firmly planted on the couch instead of exercising during your senior years, stop and think. Do you want to be able to remember fond memories from your past, like the day you got married or had your first child? Do you want to remember the first time that you held your grandchild, or the first time the new family addition finally referred to you as Grandma or Grandpa and told you how much they loved you? Don't you want to have more than a photo album to look back upon everything that happened in your life? Exercise, and there's a better chance you'll only have to look into your own mind to retrieve your most cherished memories.
Sources:
1. BBC News
2. About
