Healthy aging
It is possible to reverse and or slow down the aging process. Chronological aging has an effect on the endocrine system, hormone levels decline with age. While bio-identical hormone therapy can restore these hormone levels to more youthful levels, exercise and proper nutrition also have a positive influence on hormone levels. Hormone therapy will be much more effective with exercise and proper nutrition.
Genetic heritage, environment, and lifestyle are the three basic factors that determine life expectancy. Genetics are basically what they are and there is not much that can be done with that, but environment and lifestyle can definitely be modified. Do you need to become slaves to exercise and adopt a strict diet that does not allow for the realities of life? Not necessarily. Find an enjoyable sports program that involves some weight training along with a healthy diet and you are on your way to changing your aging process.
Adopting an exercise program and diet along with a positive attitude and healthy habits all exert anabolic messages to the endocrine system increasing the production of testosterone and other beneficial hormones for strength and physical condition. On the other hand, a sedentary lifestyle, bad nutrition, not enough rest, and stress, all send catabolic messages to the endocrine system. Catabolic hormones are released, i.e., cortisol which exerts a negative effect upon muscle, bone and promotes aging. There is obviously a close relationship between hormone secretion and lifestyle.
Bone density and muscle mass decrease with age and hormonal decline, these can be nourished with good nutrition and strengthened with exercise along with optimizing hormone levels. Cardiovascular aging is actually a logical consequence of immobility and poor nutrition. It causes hypertension, reduces muscular capacity, impairs the libido and is the first step toward cardiovascular disease. The fastest way to deterioration and aging is a lack of exercise.
Growing chronologically older does not have to mean losing lean body mass and gaining body fat. Healthy aging can be accomplished by finding an exercise activity you enjoy doing along with an improved whole food diet that can be easily followed. Get your hormone levels checked, many find their motivation improves with restored optimum levels. We all have our days of not wanting to do much of anything, if you have been enduring a lot of stress then give yourself that day of rest and recuperation, but if you haven’t, give yourself a swift kick in the rear to get going! Listen to your body and take care of it!
For more information call Jan Nelson at Balanced Wellness Medical Clinic, (509) 919-4575, or email at jnelson@balancedwellnessmed.com, www.balancedwellnessmed.com.