12 minutes of exercise a day prolongs life, claim scientists from Harvard and Boston

Fitting sport into a busy schedule is not an easy task, but it is doable and very important. Just 12 minutes of physical activity a day, and you will live longer – at least that’s what scientists from the United States say. Sounds tempting, but is it really true?

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Sport has a positive effect on vascular health, “burns off stress hormones” and also helps in the removal of “sand” and “stones” from the kidneys. All this has a positive effect on health in general.

For example, a metabolite (a metabolic product) linked to heart disease, diabetes and life expectancy was reduced by 29%. And another, linked to an increased risk of diabetes and liver disease, was reduced by 18%.

How does sport affect metabolism?

At first glance, the idea that just 12 minutes of daily exercise will affect metabolism may seem implausible. In the case of measured yoga or stretching, there is really no meaningful effect. This is not the case, for example, with interval running or intense cardio training. Already in the first minute the heart starts beating more often, dispersing blood through the vessels, breathing becomes more rapid and shallow, body temperature rises and sweating increases.

It is not without reason that professional athletes periodically undergo blood sampling and biomarkers to assess their health. Amateurs do not need to undergo such a regular examination – it is enough to do standard checks once a year. But if you still want to assess the dynamics of indicators, you can take a clinical blood test before the start of regular intensive training and three months later.

However, metabolism can be boosted not only by training, but also by adjusting your diet. How exactly – see in the “Championship” video.

Kirill: Daily intensive short workouts are a real and good opportunity to change your metabolism for the better and reduce the risk of diseases. But do not forget that all experiments should be approached responsibly. Before embarking on an intense workout, assess your fitness and don’t overload yourself.