EXERCISE "GIVES" TO 4.5 YEARS OF LIFE

Regular exercise without extremities, such as brisk walking, can increase up to 4.5 years of life expectancy of a person over 40 years and will surely gain more years of life even if they are overweight, according to a major new Scientific American research.

The benefit of exercise seems to be independent of weight, age, sex and state of health (heart problems, cancer, etc.). The researchers found that even mildly obese who exercised regularly for 150 minutes per week, live on average 2.7 to 3.4 years longer (depending on how many are overweight) compared with those who are obese but not exercised.

Those merely overweight (not obese) and exercised for 150 minutes a week, live 3.9 years more on average than overweight not exercised. People of normal weight who also exercised for 150 minutes a week, live about 4.5 years longer than people of normal weight who do not exercise, and 7.2 years more than those who are obese and physically inactive.

Experts recommend regular aerobic exercise of moderate half hours (150 minutes) or 1.25 hours (75 minutes) high intensity every week. To moderate intensity exercises are those during which a man can talk, but not sing. As a high-intensity exercises are those over which man can say a few words without stopping to catch his breath.

Exercise has many benefits, as it maintains a normal weight, healthy bones, muscles and joints, promotes mental well-being and generally reduces the risk of various diseases, including some types of cancer.

WHAT VITAMIN "BATTLING" LONGEVITY?

A RESEARCH THAT SURPRISES...

Source: PATHFINDER.GR



Do you know which vitamin should be between low to live above? Low levels of vitamin D may be associated with longevity according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The study involved middle-aged offspring of people aged 90 years old.

"We discovered that the inherited longevity associated with lower levels of vitamin D and a lower incidence of a variant of  the gene CYP2R1, which is associated with higher levels of vitamin D", says Dr. Diana van Heemst, from the department of Gerontology Geriatrics Society, of the Medical Centre of Leiden's University in the Netherlands.

Previous studies have shown that low levels of vitamin D related to increased death rates, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, allergies and depression. However, it is not known whether the low levels are the cause of these health problems or the consequence.

To determine whether there is a relationship between vitamin D levels and longevity, the Dutch researchers examined data from 380 families with at least 2 siblings aged 90. The study included siblings, children and spouses of their children in a total 1038 offspring and 461 individuals comprised the control group. Spouses were included because they were about the same age and lived in the same environment which may affect the levels of vitamin D.

Specific measurement and classification levels of the vitamin per month as this varies from season to season depending on the levels of sunshine. The researchers also took into account age, sex, BMI, kidney function of participants, if they take supplements but also the time of year. In other words, they took into account all the factors that influence the levels of vitamin D.

What scientists discovered is that the descendants of the elders who had at least one brother or sister elders had lower vitamin D levels than those who were in the control group, even when taken into account all factors related to the levels of vitamin D. Experts have also discovered that the offspring had lower incidence of genetic variants in the gene CYP2R1 (the genetic variation of this gene predisposes to high levels of vitamin D).

These findings demonstrate, according to the researchers, the link between low levels of vitamin D and hereditary longevity.