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First,
as I have written in the past, we know that there are
certain identifiable biological marks of aging. These
markers are valuable because they quantify the results.
When we look at these biological markers, for instance,
it becomes quite clear that they can be influenced both
by what we eat and how we move our bodies. (Of course,
it also matters how we think, but let's stay within these
two dimensions of health for the purpose of this article).
Two
such biological markers, insulin resistance (which causes
high levels of blood-glucose; amongst other problems)
and growth hormone production (along with its inability
to penetrate cells), are surefire signs that the body
is breaking down and aging. Insulin resistance is directly
related to food consumption, while growth hormone production
is related to intense exercise and sleep. Growth hormone
uptake is greatly influenced by two key factors: a.) The
permeability of the cell; and b.) The glucose level in
the bloodstream. Let us look at these functions in depth.
Insulin
resistance is not a sudden problem, nor is the slowing
of growth hormone production — or perhaps more importantly,
the inability of cells to uptake growth hormone. Both
insulin resistance and diminishing growth hormone uptake
occur over a period of time as cells become hardened in
relationship to insulin being secreted by the pancreas
(which is in direct relationship with overeating and/or
eating too many high-glycemic carbohydrates), thereby
slowing down or blocking the ability of insulin's primary
job - storing nutrients in cells.
Consequently,
since cells become hardened and not as easily permeable
as they were during one's youth, growth hormone absorption
is affected by this insulin-prompted resistance. In other
words, everyone eventually begins to become insulin resistant
(and, therefore, hormone resistant). Nonetheless, how
quickly you become insulin resistant is greatly related
to how and what you eat. And as we age, those in our culture
tend to do far less physical activity, which promotes
growth hormone production.
But
even if you exercise just the right amount and at the
right intensity, resisting the optimal amount of time
for growth and healing to take effect, it is ultimately
the efficiency of the hormonal communication between organs
(hypothalamus to pituitary) and organ (pituitary) to cell
that predicts the efficacy of growth hormone's entry and
use on a cellular level.
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Taken from Exercise
For Men Only (Paul Burke's Over-40 Fitness Column)
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