#089 Why Exercise Intensity Matters for Longevity | CrossFit for Health 2024

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I recently had the privilege of presenting at the CrossFit Health Summit, where I explored a constellation of factors contributing to longevity. In this context, I placed a special emphasis on the pivotal role of vigorous exercise throughout life.

Timestamps

• (00:00) Introduction
• (03:12) Why "below normal" cardio may be a great starting point
• (05:07) The simple math of 45 days of life extension (per 1 mL/kg/min VO2max)
• (06:12) Why poor cardiovascular fitness is nearly as bad as a chronic disease
• (06:52) Why zone 2 training may not improve VO2 max
• (08:08) Protocols for improving VO2 max quickly
• (09:10) How to estimate VO2 max in 12 minutes;
• (10:07) Reversing 20 years of heart aging
• (12:41) Blood pressure benefits of vigorous exercise
• (13:29) The BDNF brain benefits of high-intensity exercise
• (14:05) The signaling role of lactate production by muscle
• (16:13) How training effortfully improves focus & attention
• (17:23) Anti-cancer effects of vigorous exercise
• (18:11) Why shear stress kills circulating tumor cells
• (19:00) What if you exercise in short bursts all day long?
• (20:06) Why "exercise snacks" are a crucial pre- and post-mealtime activity
• (20:49) The best ways to improve mitochondrial biogenesis
• (21:47) The mortality benefits of breaking up sedentary time
• (26:17) Why the protein RDA is too low 
• (29:07) Does omega-3 reduce muscle atrophy?
• (30:41) Why we should lift for aging and to prevent the 8% per decade decline of muscle
• (32:03) Is lifting heavy necessary for gaining muscle?
• (33:06) What the sauna has in common with exercise
• (34:45) Does the sauna enhance the benefits of exercise?
• (36:44) How heat shock proteins prevent plaque aggregation & slow muscle atrophy
• (38:23) Can sauna after resistance training boost hypertrophy?
• (39:06) Optimal sauna parameters
• (39:59) Comparing traditional saunas to infrared
• (40:59) Hot baths vs. saunas
• (42:19) Is EPA or DHA responsible for omega-3's effects on disuse atrophy?
• (43:53) Are endurance athletes at risk for cardiovascular injury?
• (44:57) What mechanisms are responsible for sauna's benefits?
• (47:08) Is a sauna temperature above 200 F too hot?
• (49:31) My recommended sauna temperature & duration

Watch this episode on YouTube

Show notes are available by clicking here