Whether it's continuing to pull on your for a ramble in the wild or going for a walk in your local park, researchers are convinced of the merits of staying active as you age. Luckily for veteran wildlife expert Peter Gros, his job has ensured he’s kept moving outdoors into his 70s. “Staying active as I’ve grown older has helped me stay sharp physically and mentally, and postponed aging,” says Gros, who’s been thrilling generations of wildlife lovers on screen for nearly 40 years as the co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.
Growing up in New York’s Hudson Valley, Gros says he was exposed to the benefits of spending time outdoors early on in life and for him, the nature component is as vital as the exercise. “I still find that activities like hiking or biking outside not only keep me physically fit but elevate my mood, sharpen my cognitive abilities and significantly reduce stress.” According to a , staying physically active throughout your life is one of the biggest indicators of so-called successful aging – that means lowering your risk of chronic disease, and cognitive decline and improving your sense of well-being.
Researchers at associate daily exercise with adding about 1.6 years to your life expectancy. Though it’s common to experience a “slowing down” or loss of strength as you age, Gros says he hasn’t experienced any such difficulties yet, and plans to continue to mountain bike, hike, ski and swim even when he does begin to feel signs o.