According to a new study, exercise renews our cellular powerhouses called mitochondria. Mitochondria are small organelles inside of our cells, that produce energy that our body needs to function, from the food that we consume. Mitochondria are also responsible for our overall health and longevity.
How does it work?
Exercise promotes a process called mitophagy. During this process, our body selects and removes damaged or defective mitochondria (the powerhouses), which usually happens after a period of stress (exercise). If you do aerobic exercise (cardio machines, spinning, running, swimming, walking, hiking, aerobics classes, dancing, cross country skiing, and kickboxing ) on a regular basis, you have better muscles with better mitochondrial quality due to replacing damaged mitochondria with healthy and functional ones.
High-intensity interval training appears to have the greatest effect at a cellular level, specifically on mitochondria.
Regular exercise has been shown to boost the immune system, heighten cognitive abilities, improve sleep and maintain muscle tone.
Medical News Today (2017)
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