Improving your overall physical health is just one reason to stay active after 50.
Emmet Pierce • December 24, 2021
Staying physically fit after age 50 will help improve your
health as you age, of course. But it can also benefit your body, mind and
wallet in ways you might not realize.
For example, Suzette Pereira,
a research scientist specializing in muscle health and aging, tells Money Talks
News that maintaining muscle health can also help improve energy levels,
decrease the risk of fractures and speed up recovery from illnesses.
Following are powerful potential benefits of staying in
shape in your 50s and well beyond that you might not have considered.
Just remember to visit your doctor for a checkup before
beginning a fitness program, and ease into any exercise routine to avoid
injuries.
1. Thinking more
clearly
In addition to building muscles, exercise can help improve
brain function.
“Generally, exercise has been shown to improve mood and
sleep and reduce stress and anxiety, all of which can indirectly help with
overall cognitive function,” says Pereira, who works at Abbott Laboratories, a
manufacturer of medical devices and nutrition products.
2. Spending less on
medical care
The average retiree household spends $6,668 a
year on health care. But sticking to a regular exercise regimen can
improve your health, meaning you may be able to spend less time and money at
the doctor’s office.
According to the Mayo Clinic,
the well-known academic medical center based in Rochester, Minnesota, regular
exercise helps prevent or manage a wide range of health problems. They include:
·
Stroke
·
High
blood pressure
·
Depression
·
Many
types of cancer:
3. Saving money on
life insurance
If you can stay fit, you also may save money on life
insurance, since underwriters generally base policy costs on your risk of
death.
Being overweight, for example, can result in higher rates.
Maintaining a healthy weight and strong vital signs could reduce your rate.
4. Feeling happier
There is a strong connection between physical fitness and
happiness. In addition to boosting your energy, exercise can elevate your mood.
Physical activity stimulates brain chemicals that can make
you feel more relaxed and less anxious, the Mayo Clinic reports. As a bonus,
you may feel better about your appearance, raising your self-esteem.
5. Reducing the loss
of muscle and bone mass
With regular strength training, women can reduce the loss of
bone and muscle mass that occurs as they age, according to the national Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
The age-related loss of muscle and bone mass is more
pronounced in women than men, with menopause accelerating this decline.
Weight-based exercises are particularly helpful in combating these conditions,
which can compromise a woman’s ability to perform daily activities.
The phrase “use it or lose it” is correct when it comes to
maintaining strong bones, muscles and joints, personal trainer and ballroom
dancer Leon Turetsky tells
Money Talks News.
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6. Maintaining
independence
According to the National Council on
Aging, regular exercise can help older adults remain independent.
Certain types of exercise, such as tai chi, can even reduce your
risk of falls.
7. Living longer
Aerobic fitness is a powerful indicator of long-term
mortality, and the more aerobic exercise you do, the greater the benefit.
Just three hours a week of regular exercise may potentially
extend life by around five years, according to the University of Southern
California’s Leonard Davis
School of Gerontology.
On the other hand, not exercising creates a risk of
premature death that’s equal to or worse than cardiovascular disease, diabetes
or smoking, according to a large study published in 2018 in JAMA Network Open.
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Disclosure: The information you read
here is always objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you
click links within our stories.
Disclosure: The information you read here is always
objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you click links
within our stories.
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