{"id":19131,"date":"2022-11-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-07T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/?post_type=purple_issue&#038;p=19131"},"modified":"2022-11-09T11:15:40","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T10:15:40","slug":"minimum-effort-maximum-reward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/2022\/11\/08\/minimum-effort-maximum-reward\/","title":{"rendered":"Minimum effort, maximum reward"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center\"><span style=\"color:#009cdf\" class=\"has-inline-color\">MINIMUM<\/span> EFFORT, <span style=\"color:#009cdf\" class=\"has-inline-color\">MAXIMUM<\/span> REWARD<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center sans-serif intro\"><em>Once you turn 30, things go downhill\u2026 fast. Your health, happiness and wellbeing all take a hit, and never really recover. So says conventional wisdom, anyway. Science, however, says otherwise. With a few small changes, you can make a big difference to the way you feel <\/em><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center sans-serif author\">Words <strong>JAMES WITTS<\/strong><br>Illustrations <strong>ANDREA CHRONOPOULOS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"no-tts wp-block-image alignfull size-full article-in-image photo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2495\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"no-tts wp-image-19658\" srcset=\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-scaled.jpg 2495w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-292x300.jpg 292w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-998x1024.jpg 998w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-768x788.jpg 768w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-1497x1536.jpg 1497w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-1996x2048.jpg 1996w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2495px) 100vw, 2495px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap article-full-body sans-serif\"><span style=\"color:#009cdf\" class=\"has-inline-color\">T<\/span>ime, they say, waits for no man. It also doesn\u2019t hesitate to start chipping away at your adult form. One minute, you\u2019re in your 20s and your body and brain are seemingly impervious to the clock and any debauched lifestyle choices you may be making. The next, you\u2019ve tipped over into your 30s and everything changes. Fat begins to cling on due to you consuming more calories than you\u2019re burning. Your bone density starts declining faster than you can rebuild it. But, says the prosaically titled 2004 paper \u2018Muscle tissue changes with ageing\u2019 in the journal <em>Current Opinion In Clinical Nutrition And Metabolic Care, <\/em>\u201cOne of the most striking effects of age is the involuntary loss of muscle mass, strength and function, termed sarcopenia. Muscle mass decreases approximately 3 to 8 per cent per decade after the age of 30 and this rate of decline is even higher after the age of 60.\u201d <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">So what should you do? Roll over and accept your inevitable deterioration? Of course not. Here are some easy nutritional, physical, psychological and sociological ideas to help you be your best self\u2026 for a little bit longer, at least. <\/p>\n\n<div class=\"no-tts wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"no-tts aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_845549670-612x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"no-tts wp-image-19663\" width=\"306\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_845549670-612x1024.jpg 612w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_845549670-179x300.jpg 179w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_845549670-768x1285.jpg 768w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_845549670-918x1536.jpg 918w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_845549670-1224x2048.jpg 1224w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_845549670-scaled.jpg 1530w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 306px) 100vw, 306px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<h4 class=\"sans-serif article-subhead\">EAT MORE FIBRE <\/h4>\n\n<h5 class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#009cdf\"><em><strong>What<\/strong><\/em>?<\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">Fibre is so potent it\u2019s practically magic. Eating enough roughage can help you stave off heart disease and diabetes, and keep your guts in good nick. And the data is pretty conclusive. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">A 2019 study in <em>The <\/em><em>Lancet, <\/em>which involved \u201c135-million person-years of data from 185 prospective studies and 58 clinical trials with 4,635 adults\u201d, suggested those eating sufficient fibre reduced their chances of conditions like type 2 diabetes, while strokes plummeted by 15 to 50 per cent. \u201cFibre also lowers the level of inflammation in the gut,\u201d says Peter Cronin of the University of Limerick, who\u2019s an expert on gut health. \u201cInflammation is an important factor in common intestinal diseases, such as colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. So, fibre has a protective effect against the development of these diseases.\u201d In fact, a 2015 analysis published in the <em>American <\/em><em>Journal <\/em><em>Of <\/em><em>Epidemiology <\/em>showed that every 10g fibre consumed cut mortality risk by 10 per cent. <\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-style-large\"><p><strong><em>\u201cJUST LIKE ANY LIVING ORGANISM, THE GUT MICROBIOTA NEED NUTRIENTS TO SURVIVE\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n<h5 class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#009cdf\"><em>Why? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">Fibre is a type of complex carbohydrate that the body can\u2019t break down. Fibre was once thought of as a major tool in keeping your stools regularly deposited and well-formed, but now scientists have discovered that there are further benefits to filling up on fibre. \u201cJust like any living organism, the gut microbiota need nutrients to survive,\u201d Cronin explains. \u201cCertain species of bacteria thrive in the presence of fibre as they\u2019ve evolved to break down and use it as a nutrient source. Increased fibre intake leads to higher levels of these bacteria and lower levels of other species that are unable to use fibre as a nutrient source.\u201d <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">The benefits to the body are many, says Cronin. \u201cWhen bacteria break down fibre in the gut, they produce short-chain fatty acids. This family of molecules [short-chain fatty acids] has a beneficial effect on the metabolism by lowering the level of lipids \u2013 cholesterol, for example \u2013 and glucose in the blood. These factors are associated with many diseases like obesity.\u201d By lowering the amount of \u2018bad\u2019 cholesterol in your blood, which can block blood vessels, you\u2019ll have a happy heart and reduce your chances of a stroke. <\/p>\n\n<h5 class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#009cdf\"><em>How? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">You should aim for around 30g fibre each day. This is even more important as you grow older because of the increased risk of the diseases mentioned above. As you\u2019ve probably predicted, processed foods are a no-no as the grain-refining process removes the outer coat (bran) from the grain, lowering its fibre content. \u201cInstead, go for porridge oats, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables,\u201d says Cronin. \u201cFibres come in many forms, so mixing up different sources is best for gut bacteria health.\u201d What does 30g look like? Well, consume one avocado (6.7g of fibre), a cup of lentils (13.1g of fibre) and 100g of popcorn (14.4g of fibre) and you\u2019d have more than covered your daily intake. But refrain from mixing together. <\/p>\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-uagb-section uagb-section__wrap uagb-section__background-color uagb-block-73a04c44-26ee-45c6-afa3-1ff1b26c76fc\"><div class=\"uagb-section__overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"uagb-section__inner-wrap\">\n<div class=\"no-tts wp-block-image article-in-image photo\"><figure class=\"no-tts aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1206\" src=\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/3f92a94e-bd79-428f-9a02-6b3c663370ba.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"no-tts wp-image-19126\" srcset=\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/3f92a94e-bd79-428f-9a02-6b3c663370ba.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/3f92a94e-bd79-428f-9a02-6b3c663370ba-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/3f92a94e-bd79-428f-9a02-6b3c663370ba-1024x603.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/3f92a94e-bd79-428f-9a02-6b3c663370ba-768x452.jpg 768w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/3f92a94e-bd79-428f-9a02-6b3c663370ba-1536x905.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"sans-serif article-subhead has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">SLEEP LONG, LIVE STRONG <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\"><em>What? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Sleep is the best medicine. It boosts physical and mental health, and is so important that Tour de France winners are the ones deemed to have slept best over the 21 stages and 3,500km of racing. Which is a shame for those over 30\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Over the last four decades, the average age of parents having their first child has risen to 33.2 years for men and 30.3 years for women. Another way to put it is over the past 40 years, human beings have delayed the spectre of relentless sleepless nights. You see, a 2019 study in the journal <em>Sleep <\/em>found that new parents faced up to six years of sleep deprivation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">The cumulative long-term effects of a lack of both sleep quality and quantity is associated with a wide range of health consequences, including an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack and stroke. \u201cIt also lowers your immune system and is detrimental to mood and cognitive ability,\u201d says Prof Shona Halson from the Australian Catholic University. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\"><em>Why? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Many of the sleep-impaired physiological issues are due to hormones. Take human growth hormone (HGH). This repairs muscles by stimulating the liver and other tissues to make a protein called \u2018insulin-like growth factor 1\u2019. Lack of sleep equals lack of HGH production equals restricted muscle growth. (Alcohol has long been known to stall your secretion of HGH, with a study from 1980 showing alcohol decreased HGH secretion by 25 per cent.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">\u201cSleep also affects your eating habits by affecting the hormones that control eating behaviour,\u201d adds Halson. For instance, rising levels of a hormone called ghrelin signal that it\u2019s time to start eating, while increased levels of the hormone leptin tell you that you\u2019re full. A German study, published in the <em>Journal <em>Of Sleep Research<\/em><\/em>, showed that just one night\u2019s broken sleep significantly raises ghrelin levels, explaining why you crave a tube of Pringles when you\u2019re tired. They also showed that two nights or more poor sleep reduces leptin levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\"><em>How? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Strangely, babies aren\u2019t receptive to a t\u00eate-a-t\u00eate about their erratic sleep patterns. So if it\u2019s an option, work with them not against them. \u201cNapping can be important if you\u2019re sleep deprived,\u201d says Halson. \u201cA recent review of all the available napping literature found that the optimal nap duration was 20 to 90 minutes between 1pm and 4pm.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Whether you have kids or not, keep as consistent a bedtime as possible, avoid caffeine in the afternoon and banish your smartphone from your bedroom. \u201cFor people who are stressed or anxious, apps focused on relaxation or breathing may be useful, too,\u201d says Halson. \u201cAnd you could try tryptophan-rich foods like milk. There\u2019s evidence \u2013 albeit sometimes conflicting \u2013 that this amino acid can help you sleep.\u201d Finally, don\u2019t go to bed full or having drunk a pint of water, as you\u2019ll wake up needing a wee. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div class=\"no-tts wp-block-image article-in-image photo\"><figure class=\"no-tts aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1644\" height=\"2047\" src=\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/dcd5b580-5c5d-4853-894a-808d133516a5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"no-tts wp-image-19127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/dcd5b580-5c5d-4853-894a-808d133516a5.jpg 1644w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/dcd5b580-5c5d-4853-894a-808d133516a5-241x300.jpg 241w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/dcd5b580-5c5d-4853-894a-808d133516a5-822x1024.jpg 822w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/dcd5b580-5c5d-4853-894a-808d133516a5-768x956.jpg 768w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/dcd5b580-5c5d-4853-894a-808d133516a5-1234x1536.jpg 1234w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1644px) 100vw, 1644px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<h4 class=\"sans-serif article-subhead\">DON\u2019T STOP MOVING <\/h4>\n\n<h5 class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#009cdf\"><em>What? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">It\u2019s irrefutable \u2013 for a longer life, get moving. That was the message from a 2019 study in the <em>British <\/em><em>Medical <\/em><em>Journal <\/em>that showed 25 minutes per day of moderate exercise, like brisk walking, boosted the subjects\u2019 chances of living. The most sedentary group were 60 per cent more likely to die prematurely than the most active group. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">This isn\u2019t wonderful news, as, according to a 2015 study co-commissioned by Public Health England, British people sit for an average 8.9 hours each day. Further research that same year in the <em>British <\/em><em>Journal <\/em><em>Of <\/em><em>Sports <\/em><em>Medicine <\/em>suggested there\u2019s a 5 per cent increased risk of premature death with each additional hour off your feet. <\/p>\n\n<h5 class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#009cdf\"><em>Why? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">\u201cThat\u2019s okay,\u201d you might be thinking. \u201cI have been manacled to a desk for the last 10 years, but I\u2019ve just bought a standing one, so I\u2019m all good.\u201d But hold your horses\u2026 <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">\u201cThere\u2019s evidence for some benefits of standing versus sitting at work for metabolic health, particularly how your body deals with sugar in your blood, which is an important factor in risk for diabetes and heart disease,\u201d says Dr Richard Pulsford, senior lecturer in physical activity and public health at Exeter University. \u201cHowever, these benefits tend to be noticeable in those who don\u2019t live active lives or who are in poorer health.\u201d <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">Plus, while there is evidence that standing desks can help back pain, standing too long with a hunchback posture will only accentuate the symptoms. \u201cIt\u2019s inescapable,\u201d says Pulsford, \u201cyou need to move more.\u201d <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">\u201cMovement\u2019s an important component of healthy ageing,\u201d he continues. \u201cAgeing affects our metabolic processes and cardiovascular health, so anything we can do to support them \u2013 from exercising and keeping fit, through to moving little and often during otherwise inactive days \u2013 is beneficial.\u201d <\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-style-large\"><p><strong><em>\u201cANYTHING THAT GETS YOU MOVING COUNTERS THE EFFECTS OF SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n<h5 class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#009cdf\"><em>How? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">This doesn\u2019t mean you need to mimic Eliud Kipchoge and start running sub-two-hour marathons. Dancing, gardening, swimming\u2026 anything that gets you moving counters the effects of sitting for long periods, no matter how insignificant. \u201c[The benefits of] breaking up your day with bouts of walking are certainly more pronounced than simply standing,\u201d says Pulsford. \u201cIn a recent study we found that intermittent slow walking, of two minutes every 20 minutes, reduced insulin demand and improved glucose uptake [both favourable metabolic changes for better health]. In the same study, intermittent standing didn\u2019t seem to make a difference. Exercising helps channel glucose from our blood \u2013 where it can cause damage if levels are too high \u2013 to our muscles and other tissues, where we can store it and use it later. The more we use in our muscles, the better.\u201d <\/p>\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-uagb-section uagb-section__wrap uagb-section__background-color uagb-block-28d3aedb-c45b-4ba8-9710-f2d70c63f808\"><div class=\"uagb-section__overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"uagb-section__inner-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"no-tts wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"928\" src=\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_85280101-1024x928.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"no-tts wp-image-19670\" srcset=\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_85280101-1024x928.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_85280101-300x272.jpg 300w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_85280101-768x696.jpg 768w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_85280101-1536x1392.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_85280101-2048x1856.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-text-align-left sans-serif article-subhead has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">STRETCH AND STRENGTHEN <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\"><em>What? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Fact: cranking up your cardiovascular system bolsters health. But while walking, running and cycling are to be applauded, there\u2019s a powerful age-related case for stretching and strengthening. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association recommend \u201cmuscular strengthening and flexibility activities at least two days per week for the maintenance of physical independence and health.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\"><em>Why? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">As we age, we lose muscle mass, which then kills off muscle fibres. Research has shown that the vastus medialis muscle in your thigh contains around 800,000 fibres when you\u2019re 20; by 60, it has 250,000. On average, we lose 8 per cent of our muscle fibres between 40 and 50, but that deterioration often starts earlier. That\u2019s especially true of \u2018fast-twitch\u2019 muscle fibres that are responsible for generating power (you also have \u2018slow-twitch\u2019 fibres that are more about endurance) and is why the fastest sprinters tend to be under 30. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Similar to sleep, your hormones are important here, especially testosterone, which preserves and increases lean muscle mass. Testosterone also improves cognitive function and increases bone density. The problem is, from the age of around 30, your testosterone levels begin to drop. That\u2019s where weight training comes in. It\u2019s an anabolic activity, meaning it generates higher levels of testosterone, which will counteract the natural drop as you age. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Flexibility is important, too. A paper in the journal <em>Sports <em>Medicine And Health <\/em>Science <\/em>investigated the association between flexibility and \u201cthe development of functional limitation\u201d (the growing struggle to perform daily tasks). Out of the 1,318 adults studied, the 491 that undertook regular stretching exercises and the 122 that performed bodyweight exercises \u201cwere associated with 24 and 38 per cent decreased odds of incident functional limitation as they aged.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-style-large\"><p><span class=\"has-inline-color has-ccp-primary-light-color\"><strong><em>\u201cON AVERAGE, WE LOSE 8 PER CENT OF OUR MUSCLE FIBRES BETWEEN 40 AND 50, BUT THAT DETERIORATION OFTEN STARTS EARLIER\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\"><em>How? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">You don\u2019t need to morph into Dwayne Johnson or the She-Hulk. It\u2019s hard to be too prescriptive, but a couple of strength and stretching efforts each week is a good start. Just note that when it comes to strength training, squats are the ideal. They work a large range of muscles, including the gluteus maximus (your backside), one of the biggest muscles in your body. The bigger the muscle you work, the greater the testosterone hit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">As for stretching, dynamic stretches are regarded as being better than static ones for boosting strength and flexibility as they raise the temperature of the blood. Dynamic stretches are active movements where joints and muscles go through a full range of motion, while static ones are where you hold a stretch. You can do both types easily at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<div class=\"no-tts wp-block-image article-in-image photo\"><figure class=\"no-tts aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"795\" src=\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_155386662-1024x795.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"no-tts wp-image-19669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_155386662-1024x795.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_155386662-300x233.jpg 300w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_155386662-768x596.jpg 768w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_155386662-1536x1193.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/GettyImages_155386662-2048x1590.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<h4 class=\"sans-serif article-subhead\">GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND INTO NATURE <\/h4>\n\n<h5 class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#009cdf\"><em>What? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">If you\u2019re happy and you know it, clap your hands\u2026 and keep them clapping, as a study in <em>Proceedings <\/em><em>Of <\/em><em>The <\/em><em>National <\/em><em>Academy <\/em><em>Of <\/em><em>Sciences <\/em>found that people who had higher levels of optimism had a longer lifespan and were likelier to live past 85 in a healthy, joyous state. That\u2019s the good news. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">Now for the bad. A 2010 survey by relationship-support charity Relate showed that people between 35 and 44 felt more depressed than any other age group. Long work hours, arguments and division of household chores were cited equally by men and women as the most common causes of problems. But there is a solution: head outdoors. <\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-style-large\"><p><strong><em>\u201cPEOPLE WHO SPENT MORE THAN TWO HOURS A WEEK IN NATURE SHOWED CONSISTENTLY HIGHER HEALTH AND WELLBEING\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n<h5 class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#009cdf\"><em>Why? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">\u201cUsing data from nearly 20,000 people in England, we saw that those who spent more than two hours a week in nature showed consistently higher health and wellbeing than people who never visited,\u201d explains Dr Mathew White, an environmental psychologist at Exeter University. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">These benefits are numerous and include six key mechanisms, says White. \u201cReducing exposure to environmental pollution, thanks to better air quality in places with more trees; exposing us to \u2018good\u2019 microbiota for healthy immune and gut function; encouraging \u2018capacity-building behaviours\u2019, such as promoting physical activity that\u2019s good for health; promoting social cohesion and good relationships, as nature seems to bring people together in positive ways; helping us to manage everyday stress by giving us less demanding contexts in which to collect our thoughts and restore depleted cognitive and emotional capacities; and building \u2018place attachment\u2019, which is important for people to orient themselves and find a place in the world.\u201d <\/p>\n\n<h5 class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#009cdf\"><em>How? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\">You don\u2019t have to go all Bear Grylls and camp out on a deserted island to enjoy nature\u2019s benefits. But, according to White, being beside a waterway \u2013 a sea, river or lake \u2013 confers the best of both worlds: green and blue space. \u201cHowever, in our studies we\u2019ve also seen the benefits of house plants and even virtual experiences via the television. Some studies also show the benefits of urban parks are strongest for those in more deprived communities, who may also have less access to more remote places due to costs and time.\u201d <\/p>\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-uagb-section uagb-section__wrap uagb-section__background-color uagb-block-dd8314d0-7b32-4a06-8dc0-271c5da1cd11\"><div class=\"uagb-section__overlay\"><\/div><div class=\"uagb-section__inner-wrap\">\n<div class=\"no-tts wp-block-image article-in-image photo\"><figure class=\"no-tts aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2047\" height=\"1123\" src=\"https:\/\/dj9jqhxgw9833.cloudfront.net\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/4d044854-2892-4765-903c-f199abbd1c58.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"no-tts wp-image-19130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/4d044854-2892-4765-903c-f199abbd1c58.jpg 2047w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/4d044854-2892-4765-903c-f199abbd1c58-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/4d044854-2892-4765-903c-f199abbd1c58-1024x562.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/4d044854-2892-4765-903c-f199abbd1c58-768x421.jpg 768w, https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/10\/4d044854-2892-4765-903c-f199abbd1c58-1536x843.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2047px) 100vw, 2047px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"sans-serif article-subhead has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">STAY CONNECTED <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\"><em>What? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Loneliness is no laughing matter. But, once again, it appears longevity is, with a 2010 meta analysis showing that social support increases survival by up to 50 per cent, with research going back to the early 20th Century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">A more recent study by the Loneliness Commission, part of the Jo Cox Foundation, showed that men in particular are most likely to hit \u201cpeak loneliness\u201d at 35 years old. This could be down to numerous factors, including unemployment, relationship break-ups, bereavement or moving away from family and friends. All of which are far from ideal, as a landmark study in the journal <em>Science <\/em>showed that lack of social connection is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking and high blood pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\"><em>Why? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Research has linked loneliness to greater risks of a number of physical and mental conditions, including high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, depression, Alzheimer\u2019s disease and even death. The physiological, psychological and biological mechanisms at play are varied, but are rooted in the idea that loneliness alters the tendency of cells in the immune system to promote inflammation. Inflammation that lasts for significant periods of time increases the risk of chronic diseases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">This makes sense. Human beings are social creatures and, as a 2017 paper in the <em>American <em>Journal Of Lifestyle Medicine <\/em><\/em>so acutely put it, \u201cSocial connection is a pillar of lifestyle medicine.\u201d The paper continued, \u201cFrom psychological theories to recent research, there\u2019s significant evidence that social support and feeling connected can help people maintain a healthy body mass index, control blood sugars, improve cancer survival, decrease cardiovascular mortality, decrease depressive symptoms, mitigate post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and improve overall mental health.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\"><em>How? <\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Clearly there are many ways to connect, but the paper\u2019s authors suggest that, \u201cIt\u2019s safe to say that connecting with friends and family, with whom a person has a good relationship, is recommended on a daily, or at least weekly, basis. This could be a phone call, a Skype call or face-to-face interaction.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif has-ccp-primary-light-color has-text-color\">Experiencing a sense of belonging to a group is also beneficial, the study continues, and engaging in group activities once a week, or at least once a month, is an excellent place to start.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n<p class=\"sans-serif article-byline\">by <strong>JAMES <\/strong><strong>WITTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"article-full-body sans-serif\"><em>(<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/james_witts\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/james_witts\">@james_witts<\/a>) <\/em>James is a freelance science writer who specialises in health and fitness. His latest book is <em>Training Secrets Of The World\u2019s Greatest Footballers<\/em> (\u00a316.99, Bloomsbury). <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"footer\">IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Once you turn 30, things go downhill\u2026 fast. Your health, happiness and wellbeing all take a hit, and never really recover. So says conventional wisdom, anyway. Science, however, says otherwise. With a few small changes, you can make a big difference to the way you feel <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":19658,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"60","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"60","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_60-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_60-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"November-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"November-2022","purple_external_id":"November-2022-60-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"November-2022-60-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000089660||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000089660||","purple_android_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue384","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue384","purple_ios_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue384","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.focus.magazine.issue384","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"0f422ad1-c939-476d-9f82-a410052ad4c3","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-11-08T11:41:27Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"ec321770-4820-442c-8501-d13f2dca1ecd","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-11-09T10:15:49Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/A7DIXcEggRCyFAdE_LcoezQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[54],"tags":[15],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-scaled.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"14","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-scaled.jpg",2495,2560,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-292x300.jpg",292,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-768x788.jpg",768,788,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-998x1024.jpg",800,821,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-1497x1536.jpg",1497,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/11\/cover_illustration_preview-1-1996x2048.jpg",1996,2048,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Once you turn 30, things go downhill\u2026 fast. Your health, happiness and wellbeing all take a hit, and never really recover. So says conventional wisdom, anyway. Science, however, says otherwise. With a few small changes, you can make a big difference to the way you feel","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19131"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19131"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19788,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19131\/revisions\/19788"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}