Is it possible that fitness over 50 is the "cure"
most midlife men are looking for?
According to a recent study by the New England
Research Institutes in Massachusetts, the answer is a resounding "yes".
The study, which followed 1,667 men ages 40 through 70, indicated that
as the men aged the importance of weight control through regular
exercise becomes vital.
The history of the participants showed that
increases in weight led to major decreases in the production of
testosterone, the primary male hormone. For men over 50, this means
that something as simple as a daily morning jog, stopping by the gym a
few times a week, or even lifting weights in the garage can improve
endurance, increase energy, and even enhance sexual performance and
increase libido.
Testosterone levels go down as
weight goes up
In normal healthy men testosterone production
generally decreases about one percent per year after the age of 40. But
the New England research revealed that as the Body Mass Index or BMI
rose into the level of obesity, the production of testosterone dropped
off dramatically. In fact, moving from a non-obese to an obese BMI
category was linked to a reduction in testosterone equivalent to 10
years of aging.
Low testosterone linked to a host of
mental, physical, and sexual problems
Low testosterone levels play a role in many of the
symptoms and syndromes associated with male aging, male "menopause",
and the classic male mid-life crisis. In addition, low levels of this
crucial hormone are believed to contribute to a host health conditions,
including diabetes, osteoporosis and impaired sexual function.
Both mental ability and sexual function are
markedly effected by major drops in testosterone levels. A French study
by the Saint-Etienne University Hospitals found that lower levels of
testosterone are definitely linked to measurably poorer results in
cognitive tests. Other studies have demonstrated that low testosterone
is linked to Alzheimer's disease, but it is still unclear whether the
drop in testosterone levels lead to the disease or are a result of the
disease process.
Good nutrition + regular exercise =
fitness over 50
Regular exercise, along with changes in diet and
lifestyle, are crucial to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
(and therefore a healthy production of testosterone) in middle aged
men. In addition to promoting weight loss, regular exercise has been
repeatedly proven to dramatically lower most major health risks and to
increase energy, alertness, and libido.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/anti-aging-articles/
is-fitness-over-50-the-solution-for-male-menopause-849566.html
About the Author
Staying fit is the key to looking younger, feeling
younger, and living longer. For more information on over-50 fitness, click
here. If you'd like to enjoy an extraordinary life,
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now to learn about Fit Over 40.
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