Does Strenuous Exercise Make You Look Younger?

Sports aren't just for kids. If you think you shouldn't get off the couch now that you're growing older, think again. Practicing strenuous exercise -- that is, exercise that will raise your heart rate and quicken your breathing -- can actually make you look much younger.

  1. Better Skin

    • A popular mark of youth is smooth, wrinkle and blemish-free skin. Regular, moderately intense exercise can actually result in younger looking skin. When you're working out, your blood pressure rises. Blood flushes to your face and with it come nutrients and oxygen. Strenuous exercise will also reduce the stress hormone level in your body, and less stress can mean fewer wrinkles. Additionally, exercise improves sleep. The better you sleep, the better your skin will look.

    Healthier, More Luscious Hair

    • If you find that your hair is thinning and losing its luster as you grow older, you might want to turn to vigorous exercise to remedy the problem. Like your skin, your hair follicles will benefit from the extra oxygen that rushes to your head during exercise. This will then result in healthier, shinier hair. And since exercise also helps reduce stress, it could potentially help prevent or reduce hair loss.

    Better Body

    • Sixty, 50 and 40 year-olds generally have higher body-fat percentages than people in their 20s and 30s. However, with strenuous exercise, you can trim inches off your waist and build more muscle, resulting in a leaner, younger look. For example, athletes who constantly perform intense workouts, like sprinters, marathoners, gymnasts and cyclists, have much lower average body-fat percentages compared to the rest of the population.

    Happiness

    • Depression can accelerate the aging process. It can trigger disease and worsen your immune system. Strenuous exercise can help with feelings of sadness, says the National Institutes of Health. Working out releases body chemicals like endorphins and neurotransmitters that will make you feel happier. You'll also become more confident and enjoy a higher self-esteem, which should ease or completely eliminate many of the symptoms of depression.