Run to stay young
Cardio vascular exercise actually helps to prevent your cells from shrivelling up
According to a recent study in Germany, regular aerobic exercise actually helps to prevent your cells from shrivelling up as you get older.
Inside the nucleus of every cell are structures called telomeres. They act as a protective cap for the chromosomes (your DNA), and over time they shrivel and weaken, causing the cells to age.
The German scientists reviewed 250 volunteers between the ages of 30 and 60 who do not normally exercise. They were randomly assigned to three exercise groups: endurance running, resistance training with weights and high intensity interval training, working out three times per week.
At the end of the period, the telomeres / protective caps on the ends of the DNA strands were assessed. The telomeres in people who had taken aerobic exercise had lengthened by 3.5%, whereas there had been no change at all in those doing weight training alone. Which indicates that, while lifting weights will build your muscles, doing cardio-vascular exercise helps to keep you younger.
