Is There An Extra Benefit of Early Morning Exercise?

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Today’s Health Upgrade

• The key to “exceptional longevity”

• The early bird fights heart disease

• Not financial advice, but…

Health
The Real Secret of Super-Agers

Here’s more evidence that the best “hacks” to a longer life aren’t necessarily the ones that cost the most money. 

Research suggests that optimists live longer and are more likely to achieve “exceptional longevity.”

Scientists analyzed more than 70,000 people for up to 30 years and assessed all the typical variables influencing longevity, such as diet, fitness, smoking, and alcohol use. But they also analyzed their mindset and optimism.

They found that the most optimistic people lived 15 percent longer and were up to 75 percent more likely to live beyond the age of 85, which is considered “exceptional aging.”

The optimists lived longer even when accounting for age, chronic diseases, depression, and also health behaviors, such as alcohol use, exercise, diet, and primary care visits.

While that study didn’t measure why optimism helps people live longer, other research leaves clues. Another study identified a similar relationship between longevity and optimism and found that graceful aging occurred because optimists reduce their exposure to stressful situations. 

If you struggle with optimism, you have plenty of reason for hope. Research suggests optimism is a learned trait, and one study found spending 5 minutes per day imagining your “best possible self” — in your personal, relationship, and occupation domains — can boost optimism. Set aside five minutes, be patient, and you might discover that you can reprogram your mind and help extend your lifespan. 

On Our Radar
The Early Bird Fights Off Heart Disease

The best time of day to work out is the time you will do it most consistently. 

But, if you are impartial to when you can exercise, a morning sweat session might do more than burn calories or help jumpstart your day. 

Research suggests that morning workouts might reduce your risk of stroke or coronary heart disease compared to exercising later in the day. 

The researchers examined exercise data from more than 86,000 people and compared different exercise windows throughout the day. They found that being most active between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. (considered the “late morning”) was linked with the lowest risks of both heart disease and stroke.

Participants who were most active in the early morning or late morning had 11 percent and 16 percent lower risks of incident coronary artery disease, respectively. Those who were most active in the late morning had a 17% decreased risk of incident stroke.

The research suggests that regardless of how much activity people performed, those who did morning exercise experienced the added health protection.

Remember, you’ll see health benefits whether you train in the morning or night, so there’s no need to flip your schedule upside down if it’s not sustainable. 

As Seen On Social
Not Financial Advice, But…

Over the years, we’ve seen compelling research that a healthy body can lead to a richer life—and we’re not just talking about being happier. 

Some studies suggest that fit people are more successful at their jobs. 

Many examples disprove this as a hard rule (you can find “unhealthy” people who are very accomplished and wealthy), but the idea that fitness and success are connected is not so far-fetched. 

Multiple studies have found that being physically fit is associated with higher satisfaction at work. That’s because the healthier you are, the less likely you are to miss days or feel stressed and anxious.

Better fitness is also linked to greater clarity and focus, the ability to do more work, having more energy, and the resilience to overcome difficult situations. In other words, the grit you build in the gym transfers to other areas of life, and that determination can lead to more success. 

That’s why we found this post so thought-provoking. Take from it what you will, but companies with CEOs who lift appear to outperform the S&P 500.

🏋️ I made a Deadlift ETF with only companies with CEOs that lift weights or do fight sports (not just cardio)

It outperforms the S&P500 by 140% or 2.4x over the last 4 years!

Lifting weights = $$$

— @levelsio (@levelsio)
5:16 PM • Aug 19, 2024

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Publisher: Arnold Schwarzenegger​

Editors-in-chief: Adam Bornstein and Daniel Ketchell