What are the issues that adversely affect you as you age? As you age parts of you body will deteriorate because of, lower testosterone levels for men, lower bone density for men and women, diminished brain function, muscle atrophy, and depression. Weight training can play a major part in lessening the effects of all of these things, as you grow older.
Erectile dysfunction is something that many aging men suffer from. It can be caused in part by lower testosterone levels, and poor blood circulation. As men age, past the age of 25, their testosterone levels go down. Your testosterone levels begin to decrease faster as you get older. Lower testosterone levels are also linked to diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, high blood pressure, and higher incidents of falling. Weight training stimulates the pituitary gland, which produces testosterone. Studies have shown that small short bursts of exercise, like weight training, are more effective than longer sustained exercises like running.
Low bone density, Osteoporosis, affects 1 in 3 women, and 1 in 12 men. One of the main causes of osteoporosis in men is low testosterone levels, and low estrogen levels in women. Weight training as well as vitamins D and K, and many minerals are important in maintaining strong bones.
Christin Anderson, wellness and fitness coordinator of the university of San Francisco says, “exercise affects many sites within the nervous system, and sets off pleasure chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine that make us feel calm, happy, and euphoric.” Anderson went on to say, “you can think more clearly, perform better, and your morale is better.” Weight training increases circulation of blood to the brain, which stimulates brain cells and nerves in the brain that make your brain function better. Anderson also said “bouts of exercise can also reduce anxiety and depression for up to several hours after.”
Muscle atrophy is a decrease in muscle mass and muscle function. Weight training keeps your muscles stronger and allows you to do more. The perfect example of the “use it of lose it” saying. If you don’t use your muscles, you will not be able to do as much. You will be more likely to be off balance, more likely to fall, and more likely to break weaker bones.
The one thing that is an obvious benefit from weight training is that the things that happen, as you get older, appear to be all tied together. Suffering from one can lead to suffering from the others. Conversely, the benefits from weight training for one will also benefit the others. There is no other single thing you can do to help you age better, than train your muscles with weights.
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