Looking for the ultimate anti-aging hack? It might be as simple as lacing up your running shoes.

A study by Professor Larry Tucker from Brigham Young University has revealed that jogging for 30 to 40 minutes a day, five times a week could slow cellular aging by up to 9 years. The key lies in telomeres the protective endcaps on our chromosomes that naturally shorten as we age.

🧬 Telomeres: Your DNA’s Timekeepers
Think of telomeres as the plastic tips on shoelaces. They protect your DNA from unraveling. But poor lifestyle choices especially physical inactivity can cause oxidative stress, accelerating telomere shortening and, essentially, speeding up aging at the cellular level.

💡 The Study: What It Found
Prof. Tucker analyzed 5,823 adults as part of the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. He found that:

• Highly active individuals had telomeres equivalent to someone 9 years younger than those who were sedentary.
• Moderately active individuals had only a 2-year advantage not significantly better than sedentary people.

In short, “a little exercise won’t cut it,” says Tucker. To truly fight aging, it requires consistent, high-level activity.

🚺 For women: 30 minutes of jogging a day, 5 days/week
🚹 For men: 40 minutes of jogging a day, 5 days/week

🧠 And it’s not just your body exercise also boosts brain power, especially in those over 50.

Bottom Line

Jogging slows cellular aging, but only if done consistently and vigorously. It’s not just about looking younger, but being biologically younger from the inside out.

👟 So next time you think about skipping that run, remember: you’re not just working out you’re rewinding time.