Aging gracefully

Feet flatten. Waistlines widen. Then come the gray hairs. As we age, we change. But that change doesn’t mean we can’t stay healthy as we grow older.

From the inside out, the transformation is inevitable. Beginning about age 18, the body stops growing and starts declining. Over time, your bones thin, your heart valves thicken and your arteries narrow. Your muscles lose mass and strength, while your lungs, tendons, and joints lose elasticity. The list goes on, but the process is natural.

What is the magic bullet against aging? Exercise. Working out helps you shed weight—and lowers your risk of all health problems. A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found people who get 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day slow the aging process. Their cells are biologically 10 years younger than those of their sedentary peers.

Make the most of your God-given life. Add a healthy diet and regular check-ups to your exercise regimen, and you will look and feel better.

Today is the birthday of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, who was born this day in 1743. This message was adapted from “Aging Gracefully” written by Molly M. Ginty that first appeared in the October 2008 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine.