Jogging for Longer Life
Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 5:48AM
We're talking about an additional 6.2 years of life for male joggers and an additional 5.6 years for women joggers. This news comes from researchers in Denmark who compared 1,116 men who jogged and 762 women joggers to many, many more non-joggers of both sexes as part of the ongoing Copenhagen City Heart Study. The study, which began in 1976, includes data on some 20,000 adults between the ages of 20 and 93. Looking at jogging individuals and lifespan, the researchers found that benefits were highest among those who jogged from one to 2.5 hours a week at slow or average speeds. Beyond the improvement in life expectancy, the researchers linked a number of health benefits to jogging. These included improved cholesterol levels (higher HDL and lower triglycerides), better bone density, improved immune function, improved cardiac function, lower blood pressure, better body weight control, better psychological well-being and reduced markers for inflammation. So the joggers are apparently enjoying a better quality of life, and not just life extension. The findings were presented at a May meeting of the European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.
Reader Comments (3)
So happy and proud to see this study from my country and city, Copenhagen, Denmark. Jogging with others as members of a sports club has really caught on. Some years ago, Nordic Walking was the vogue but not quite so much the case now. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Another good saying is: "Exercise is the spice of life. It helps keep the motor running."
I see elderly women with two Nordic Walking sticks, sauntering but this is not what it is about: You should walk with large steps, a straight back and swing your arms. You could try power walking. Anything so long as you enjoy it. Form a group of colleagues, friends, neighbors and exercise regularly. It must be enjoyable. Dr. Weil suggests walking, walking, walking in his EIGHT WEEKS TO OPTIMUM HEALTH, which I am currently following (it is translated into Danish). Tell the women in your life to use Origins, a cosmetics brand based on Dr. Weil's philsophy of pure, 'green' skin and body care. It sells in a big way here. Good luck with your new lifestyle! My advice: Begin with walking, say, with a friend.
Anna
I am really lazy for walking or jogging. I am trying to make a habit but not able to practice this everyday. I hope I continue practicing and make it a daily habit. Thank you for sharing the benefits. :-)