We're all on the hunt for ways to slow down the ageing process, whether it's through exercise, diet or over-the-counter products.
But one doctor believes he may have stumbled upon a crucial tool in the battle to stay healthy as we get older - and it's been around for millennia. Dr Michael Mosley has delved into research suggesting that yoga not only boosts strength and flexibility but also enhances mood and reduces stress and anxiety - and it could even 'delay or slow down the rate of cellular ageing'.
As part of his Just One Thing podcast on the BBC , Dr Mosley explored the history and health benefits of yoga. Yoga has been practised for at least 5000 years, but it only gained global popularity in the 19th century when photographs allowed the various movements and poses to be easily shared worldwide. While there are many different types of yoga, five well-known variants stand out - Vinyasa, Astanga, Hatha, Iyengar, and Hot Yoga, reports Wales Online .
A German study in 2018 organised three groups of people who, for 10 weeks, either practiced yoga, participated in sports, or did nothing. Brain scans found a significant increase in the grey matter density of the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with learning and memory.
Dr Mosley added: ⁘These effects, along with lower levels of inflammatory markers, are thought to be the main reasons behind yoga's impact on anxiety and depression. Yoga might also boost our mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are tiny power units that live inside our cells and provide us with energy. The better they are working, the better you function.⁘
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