Introduction
Implications of exercise and diet on aging constitute a critical are of research in adult development and aging. People engage in various activities like healthy eating and physical exercise in order to regulate the aging process. Studies have shown that many people regulate their diets and engage in physical exercise in order to reduce the levels of calories in their bodies (Marie & Thomas, 2013). Numerous theories explain the concept of healthy living and its implications on aging. People encounter different experiences and make varied choices that affect the vitality of their brains throughout their lives.
In any individual, these experiences and choices affect their quality of life and the process of aging. The main reason for this phenomenon is that people are ignorant of effective and recommended practices that are good for their health. Many people believe that healthy living is losing weight, adhering to nutrition philosophies, and avoiding eating their favorite foods (Erickson, 2009). However, healthy living practices entail maintaining body fitness and vitality by eating foods that provide adequate energy to the body. In addition, it involves consuming foods that improve mood. According to nutritionists, people should improve their diet and exercise choices as early as possible in order to enjoy their benefits with regard to aging.
These choices are easy to apply and have little or no side effects hence the reason why they are recommended for the aging population. Studies have shown that regular exercise is an elixir for healthy aging as long as it is happens within the recommended limits (McGraw, 2010). Healthy aging is an important topic among professionals and the lay people because studies have shown that old people suffer a lot from bad diet and lifestyle choices.
Discussion
People have developed various theories that explain the concept of aging. These theories have attempted to explain the main causes of aging as well as provide ways in which people can manage the effects of the process. One of the commonly discussed and applied theories is the genes vs. lifestyles theory (Beard, 2008).
This theory presents two different perspectives about the concept of aging and enumerates ways in which people can deal with it. According to the theory, people should be less concerned about aging and its impacts. Aging is a predetermined process that depends on ones genes. The theory argues that an individual starts the aging process from the day they are born to the day they die. On the other hand, the theory also argues that one can slow down the aging process by making healthy lifestyle choices. Better nutrition and regular exercise helps people enjoy healthy aging experiences. Another theory that explains this concept is the “use it and lose it” theory (Beard, 2008).
According to this theory, when something is overused without any maintenance there is a high possibility that it will diminish and lose value. When a person embraces poor diets and uses drugs without exercise, the body weakens and experiences difficulties repairing itself as the individual ages. Healthy eating habits and exercise help to boost the body’s immune system. A strong immune system protects the body from illnesses. The theory argues that physical and mental activities help individuals to feel young (Marie & Thomas, 2013).
A big percentage of the aging population experience a slow and unhealthy life due to bad lifestyle choices they make as they age. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a number of recommendations on healthy lifestyle choices that people can apply depending on their age. Most of these recommendations provide insight on how people can use healthy eating habits and regular exercise as a way of combating the effects of aging (Weil, 2005).
The World Health Organization encourages people to choose low calorie foods and increase consumption of plant products such as fruits, whole grains, nuts, and vegetables. In addition, it encourages people to reduce their intake of saturated fats. Doctors urge people to regulate their intake of granulated sugar and sodium, as well as avoid consuming foods containing pathogens (McGraw, 2010). Embracing healthy eating habits helps to protect people against illnesses and conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis among others. Studies have shown that people suffering from diet related complications such as obesity and diabetes have low glucose levels in the body (Perkins, 2009). This situation often worsens as someone grows old.
Most people are increasingly succumbing to health complications such as obesity, cancer, and diabetes due to poor diet choices. People have turned to eating fast foods and genetically modified foods (Weil, 2005). Many people prefer fast foods and genetically modified foods because they are cheap, tasty, convenient, and readily available. However, people are ignorant of the fact that these foods have a lot of calories, fats, and sodium. Consumption of these substances results in weight gain and development of serious health complications that affect people as they age. Studies have established that there is a strong link between aging and increase in body weight (Kelly, 2009). Body weight has a direct relation with the level of insulin in the body and its proper functioning. Insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in the body depends on the body weight of an individual. Studies have established that insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance is very low among people who are obese (Perkins, 2009).
Therefore, regular exercise and better diet choices can help to reduce the rate of insulin resistance in the body especially among the aging population. Studies have also shown that regular exercise and healthy eating habits among the aging population helps to improve the rate of glucose metabolism in the body. People who choose healthy eating habits and exercise on a regular basis have better aging experiences (Stanton, 2007). This is because insulin sensitivity in the body, which reduces with age, remains within the recommended levels in order to prevent old people from illnesses such as diabetes. Insulin sensitivity is very important for the aging population because it ensures effective regulation of the amount of glycogen stored in the liver, as well as accelerating the oxidation of sugars in body cells. Studies have shown that most people who fail to exercise and watch their diet from an early age suffer from diabetes and cancer (Bloom & Klein, 2004).
A commitment to healthy eating habits is one of the best practices for achieving a healthy aging experience. In contemporary society, people choose between eating organic foods and in organic foods. Studies have shown that people prefer organic foods because of their natural methods of production. According to nutritional experts, organic foods have high nutrient value and contain fewer chemicals compared to inorganic foods (Bloom & Klein, 2004). Organic foods are very good especially among the aging population because they reduce their vulnerability to chronic disease. Organically produced foods provide the body with numerous benefits that help to improve metabolic process. Studies have shown that a big percentage of the aging population experience slow movements due to lack of exercise and unhealthy body weight. Foods with low calories help old people to maintain their movement because their body fat remains within healthy limits (Kelly, 2009).
Exercise is one of the practices that the World Health Organization recommends people to do in order to achieve healthy lifestyles. Some of the benefits of regular exercise among the aging population are that it helps to boost their moods and memory functions. Exercise helps to increase blood flow in the body and the brain, which help people to have better memory and high moods. Studies have shown that high moods and better brain functions helps in eliminating chronic conditions such as depression that are common among the old (Stanton, 2007). However, fitness experts discourage people from engaging in excessive exercise because it can speed up the rate of aging especially among middle-aged people.
According to studies conducted on the effects of excessive exercise, too much stress leads the body to release a hormone called Hydrocortone in large amounts. High levels of this hormone in the body lead to health challenges such as premature aging, gloominess, weight gain, memory loss, and restlessness among others. Therefore, people should have regulated exercise that can effectively maintain the level of body fat within healthy levels (Perkins, 2009). People who have excessive exercise can also fast track aging if they consume foods with high protein content and have lengthy exposure to sunlight.
Studies have shown that the best way to combat the effects of aging is starting exercise at an early age. This ensures that exercise is controlled and hormones responsible for weight loss and lowering chronic tenderness are released in the body from an early age (Erickson, 2009).
Limited body inflammation and low body weight makes one look younger. People should adopt healthy lifestyle practices from an early age and continue practicing them when they grow old. However, fitness experts encourage people to improve their lifestyles by knowing that it is never too late for anyone to start exercising. People belonging to the aging population should not consider themselves too old to start watching their diet and exercising. People should consider the benefits of healthy aging, which entails continuous reinvention as someone passes through various stages in life (Bloom & Klein, 2004). Studies have shown that people who engage in healthy aging programs from an early age enjoy more independence during their sunset years.
Conclusion
According to a report released by the United States National Library for Medicine (USNLM), people in the United States are having a prolonged life today compared to the number of years people lived in the last couple of decades. People have adopted healthy lifestyles through regular exercise and watching their diet. In addition, the report states that although people know that they cannot stop the aging process, understanding various body changes and adapting a healthy aging lifestyle can help in combating their impacts. Studies have shown that regular and supervised exercise especially among the youth plays a crucial role in treating depression, which contributes to slowing down the process of aging.
References
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