The Fountain of Youth is a mythical solution to an inevitable reality: aging. We are all going to get older, but some of us will age more gracefully than others. Genetics plays a large role in how you will age, but you may have more control than you knew. According to new research from the journal Cell Metabolism, exercise, particularly interval training, can help slow down the aging process. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) can stop the aging process by allowing your cells to create an abundance of proteins which allow for gains in muscle mitochondrial function.

CNN reporter Susan Scutti offers an explanation in layman’s terms. “Specifically, in the HIIT group, younger participants saw a 49% increase in mitochondrial capacity, while older participants saw a 69% increase. Most cells in our bodies contain infrastructure known as mitochondria. These “organelles” — a mini-version of an organ within a cell — perform as tiny batteries do, producing much-needed energy.”

The gains in mitochondria offer bodies extra improves the body’s sensitivity to insulin, a common indicator of diabetes. HIIT is more beneficial in this regard, than any other type of exercise. Any exercise is good, but HIIT appears to be more beneficial than strength training which is useful for building muscle mass. Perhaps a combination of the two will really put the brakes on aging. With the right balance of cardio and strength, a body’s potential to remain strong and healthy will be realized.

What is HIIT, exactly? High Intensity Interval Training is a cardiovascular exercise that includes sprints or periods of intense exercise. If you are on a treadmill, for example, you might run a comfortable pace, but add 30 second intervals of running killer-clown-is-chasing-me speed. Your personal trainer at Repke Fitness will probably not don a clown nose and look at you with crazy eyes, but they will encourage you to follow a smart interval routine at your request, and provide a safer interval speed than the one I just suggested.

Everyone knows that exercise will help people achieve a strong, lean body, but adding unending youthfulness just sweetens the deal even more. The Fountain of Youth may be a myth, but exercise is the real deal. Turn your body into an efficient machine that metabolizes sugar better, is less sensitive to insulin, and halts the process of aging with a HIIT routine. Add strength training to improve muscle tone and increase strength before your body starts to naturally lose muscle mass. You will be a living Fountain of Youth, as you nourish your cells with energy filled mitochondria that only come from exercise.

Call Repke Fitness today to schedule your FREE initial consultation/personal training session. Their workouts always vary and will include some sort of HIIT if it aligns with your fitness goals. I promise there will be no clown chasing you around the studio, but there will be a dedicated personal trainer with a background in health, who cares about making you feel healthy, strong, and young.