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There are different myths and false beliefs about exercise and the physical development of our body. For example, thinking that our ancestors were exceedingly strong, that you either have strength or speed, that it is normal to become less physically active as you age, that there is an ideal amount or type of exercise, and much more. That is why the Professor of biology and human evolution at Harvard University, Daniel Lieberman, wrote a book to disprove them from the perspective of evolution and anthropology. Here are some of their results:
What is the perfect amount of exercise?
If there is any essential physical activity for human evolution, it is walking. It is the most elemental form of physical activity. As for our ancestors, an average hunter walked between ten and fifteen thousand steps. Whereas today, before the pandemic, the average person walked approximately 4,700 steps per day. Some studies affirm that in the United States, only 20% of adults carry out the minimum physical activity recommended by different health institutions, 150 minutes per week.
Running will ruin my knees
Several studies endorsed by the highest criteria and most serious institutions show that runners do not have any additional risk of contracting arthritis or other joint ailments. Many of these show that physical activities like running can cause injuries to self-repair and help maintain your health. Most conditions are due to poor running technique.
What is the biggest mistake when talking about exercise?
To think that over time it is expected to become less physically active. In the American continent, physical strength has decreased over the years. By the age of sixty, most of the population is very frail. However, as observed in the gathering communities -those who remain active – retain their strength due to their activity. Lifting, working, walking, and moving is what keep them strong. This force is fundamental since one of the most pernicious problems of old age is a disease called Sarcopenia. Sarco means flesh, and Penia is equal to lose. That means a loss of flesh. In the Western world, as people age, they tend to lose a lot of strength and energy, which makes even the most basic tasks difficult. When that happens, people become less active. By reducing their activity, their condition decreases. And this begins a terrible vicious circle.
Over time strength training becomes increasingly important to prevent loss of essential stamina to maintain your health and stay strong
Us humans are a rare species that, unlike others, have evolved to continue living long after our reproductive stage. We continually consider the effects of physical activity on our life expectancy. That is, how long we will live, but before modern medicine, what determined how long you lived depended on how many years you were healthy. Or what was healthspan? Physical activity increases your healthspan, thus increasing your life expectancy.
The evidence is indisputable, and exercise over the years is increasingly essential to maintain your health, contrary to popular belief.
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