Exercise if you want to age gracefully

Make sure to exercise regularly - it is by far the best habit for staying healthy in old age, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Exercise is probably the single most important activity for those of you who want to age gracefully. The list of benefits is endless and includes such things as weight control, improved circulation, more muscle mass, improved mood, and better balance.
"If you want to maintain your body functions as you grow older, exercise is extremely important," says Paul Takahashi, M.D., a specialist in geriatrics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "It is never too late to begin," Takahashi adds.

Even relatively moderate amounts of exercise can increase your quality of life and help you avoid several of those diseases which the majority of us falsely believe are inevitable in old age.

Regular exercise reduces your risk of:

• Heart attacks
• Thrombosis
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Depression
• Falls followed by fractures
• Certain types of cancer

Exercise also has a positive influence on your mood, your ability to manage stress, and your sleep pattern.