What is aerobic exercise? Aerobic means "with oxygen," so aerobic exercise is exercise that improves oxygen function and metabolism, such as walking, running, swimming, bicycling or jumping rope. Weight training is anaerobic exercise. HealthDay News reports that as we age we experience a decline in maximal aerobic power that is first noticeable in middle age and decreases by measurable amounts every decade. When it falls far enough, doing any activity is difficult without major fatigue. For example, a sedentary man who is 60 years old has maximal aerobic power that is nearly half of what it was when he was 20.
Find out how moderate exercise can actually reverse at least one effect of aging!
However, the University of Toronto research team, led by Dr. Roy Shephard, found this doesn't have to happen. If we maintain aerobic fitness through regular high-intensity aerobic exercise, we can actually increase our maximal aerobic power by 25 percent, which equals 10 to 12 biological years. "There seems good evidence that the conservation of maximal oxygen intake increases the likelihood that the healthy elderly person will retain functional independence," Shephard told HealthDay News. Translation: Exercise to look and feel younger.
Find out what a man's biceps say about him and his chances for longevity.
It's not just about vanity: Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of serious disease and promotes faster recovery after injury or illness. It also helps maintain muscle power, balance and coordination, which reduces the risk of falls, reports HealthDay News. The analysis was published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
True or false? Crunches will get rid of your belly fat. Busted! Ten common diet and exercise myths.
