Longevity…
Health span versus Lifespan…
Ok, so that's quite a scary Reformer shot - but what I love about this is that these women are all strong, gutsy, and up for a challenge - so much of what we need to live our best lives and be functionally healthy!
Longevity is a hot topic at the minute...but what we should be focusing on is not so much how long we live, but how many healthy, functionally active years. That's what we are looking for, but how do we do it, and what are the secrets to a longer healthier life?? I would like to highly recommend this podcast by DR MARK HYMAN interviewed by my go to podcaster Rangan Chatterjee. 'The secrets to your longest, healthier life' (Rangan is my go to podcaster for sensible well researched advice on nutrition, fitness and mental wellbeing. BIG fan)
This is one of the best podcasts I have listened to in a long time. As a medical doctor, Mark Hyman outlines very clearly the ways we can improve our lifespan, but more importantly there is often a discrepancy between how long we live and how many active healthy functional years we have left. We want to minimise that difference. Diet plays a huge part, not my area of expertise but no surprise to anyone - sugar is a main culprit for many chronic diseases, most of which are inflammatory based. And sufficient protein as we age is covered in great depth too.
More my area, and totally science based, is the vital importance of strength and resistance training, where building muscle mass becomes increasingly important as we age. Coincidently, Michael Mosely also covered this last week in'Just One Thing' . Muscle mass is a predictor of longevity, and improving it benefits us in so many ways, lowering risk of death from all causes, boosting immunity, metabolism, optimum blood sugar levels, and brain health/cognitive function. Not to mention effect on balance, bone strength, mobility and agility, to allow us to do every day functional tasks with ease.
Ageing is often accompanied by a reduced ability to perform daily activities such as walking, rising from a chair, in and out of a bath, and climbing stairs, which ultimately impacts independence.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO ?
Research show muscle mass is likely in decline from our 30s and 40s, but the good news us that it is never too late to start - we need to work a bit harder as we age, I'm afraid taking it easy activity wise as we get older is not an option in my book! Functional fitness keeps us healthy and strong.
Of course I'm going to say this, but Pilates is brilliant for working our muscles and joints against resistance. Whether we are using our body weight and squatting, heel raises, balancing on one leg, 4 point kneeling, doing darts and diamond presses, pushing against bands, flexi rings, reformer springs ...it is all phenomenal strength training.
Movement Snacks...little and often bursts of activity. Fit them in throughout the day. Your body will love you for it down the line ...