It's all about longevity these days, it's everywhere, right!

We all want to live longer but we want more than that - we want those extra years to be good ones,

we want to maintain quality of life.

Our healthcare professionals know this, and they wish they had a magic pill but unfortunately not. What they do have, is some very sound advice in the form of "Lifestyle Medicine".

If you haven't heard of Lifestyle Medicine before, think if it as the first line of defence for all that ails you. And if you're feeling great right now - think of it as insurance for what might ail you in the future.

The components of "Lifestyle Medicine", which are often referred to as pillars are:

Nutrition

Exercise

Stress Management

Social Support

Sleep

Avoidance of Risky Behaviors.

Here's what the Royal College Surgeons Ireland have to say about it:

Lifestyle medicine is the science and application of healthy lifestyles as interventions for the promotion of health and well-be­ing, and the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity and some cancers.

I feel that most people are already aware that these things are important - it's doing them that's the tough bit!

You'll notice that the pillars, or components of "Lifestyle Medicine" aren't listed in a descending/ascending of importance - and I particularly liked the info-gram above for its circular design - illustrating that each component is important and that each component affects the next.

But what if we could only pick one, or let's say, what if we could only prioritise one...

There is one component that consistently shows improved health outcomes, even when some of the other components are lacking - guess which one 🥁

EXERCISE!

And don't just take my word for it - here's an article based on recent research showing that exercise has cardiovascular benefits even with a poor diet.

Exercise, in particular developing strength through resistance (yes even with resistance bands), has been associated with lower risk of developing dementia.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not advocating ignoring the remaining 5 components of "Lifestyle Medicine" - of course they are ALL important. And personally - my number two would be nutrition.

The thing is, as I mentioned above, they all impact each other, each one reinforcing the next and building on it.

When you exercise:

You improve your sleep - so you feel better able for more exercise, more inclined to make time for meeting friends and more inclined to eat well.

Exercising in a group builds community and social connection (Believe me, I know! Sometimes I can't get class started for the chatting😄).

Exercise releases mood boosting chemicals and relieves muscle tension - leaving you feeling less stressed.

Exercise directly influences nutrition by altering how your body absorbs, utilizes, and processes nutrients - and you when you're feeling better, you are less likely to reach for the treats.

And remember all exercise counts; every step, every stair climb, every resistance band pull and every push up variation. So keep moving, and If you're in the area pop in and get moving with us @ Butterfly Yoga & Pilates.