{"id":107263,"date":"2025-08-24T20:00:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-24T20:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/107263\/"},"modified":"2025-08-24T20:00:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T20:00:12","slug":"is-cardio-enough-to-live-longer-harvard-trained-doctor-gives-reality-check-on-what-matters-after-40","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/107263\/","title":{"rendered":"Is cardio enough to live longer? Harvard trained doctor gives reality check on what matters after 40"},"content":{"rendered":"

For years, cardio has been hailed as the cornerstone of fitness. But according to Dr. Darshan Shah, a Harvard-trained physician and longevity specialist, relying solely on running, cycling, or other cardio workouts may not be enough to maintain health as we age. Speaking on The Doctor\u2019s Kitchen Podcast<\/a> with Dr. Rupy Aujla, Shah gave a reality check: after 40, strength training should take center stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really have to add strength training into your routine after the age of 40,\u201d Shah said in the interview, a clip of which was later shared on Instagram. \u201cMost of my patients, especially women, are very focused on cardio. I\u2019m not saying cardio is bad, but you\u2019ve got to cut it in half and make the other half strength training.\u201d<\/p>\n

The science of aging muscles Shah explained that the human body naturally loses muscle and bone density with age, a process that accelerates after 40. Women, in particular, can lose between 3% and 8% of muscle mass per decade after 30, and even more following menopause. Without proactive strength training, this decline can leave people weaker, less mobile, and more vulnerable to chronic illness.
\u201cWe\u2019re genetically programmed to break down muscle at a much faster rate after 40,\u201d Shah noted. \u201cIf you\u2019re not using it, you\u2019re losing it. That\u2019s why so many people end up frail in later years.\u201d
More than just muscles The benefits of resistance training extend beyond strength and mobility. Research shows it supports cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure and improving cholesterol and blood sugar regulation. It has also been linked to better sleep quality, which often deteriorates with age, and improved mood and weight management.
Physiotherapist Emma Mitchell, speaking separately about misconceptions around women and strength training, said fears of becoming \u201ctoo bulky\u201d are misplaced. \u201cFor many women, it\u2019s actually difficult to build large amounts of muscle. What most achieve through regular strength workouts is a toned, more defined look, along with significant health benefits,\u201d she explained.
A holistic approach to longevity Shah, who has performed more than 20,000 surgeries and later expanded into wellness and preventive medicine, believes fitness is one of several pillars of a long and healthy life. On the podcast, he outlined four core areas: lifestyle medicine, functional medicine, preventive medicine, and longevity-focused treatments such as supplements and advanced therapies.
\u201cAs we get older, looking after our muscles isn\u2019t just about looking good,\u201d Shah told The Doctor\u2019s Kitchen Podcast. \u201cIt\u2019s about staying strong, mobile, and independent for as long as possible.\u201d
Cardio is still valuable, especially for heart and lung health. But according to Shah, anyone serious about healthy aging<\/a> needs to balance it with regular strength training\u2014ideally two to three sessions a week. His message is clear: after 40, the road to longevity runs not just on the treadmill, but also through the weight rack.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For years, cardio has been hailed as the cornerstone of fitness. But according to Dr. Darshan Shah, a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":107264,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[70799,337,70801,27807,97,1290,70803,70802,70804,70800,4296,70805],"class_list":{"0":"post-107263","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-cardio-vs-strength-training","9":"tag-fitness","10":"tag-fitness-after-40","11":"tag-harvard","12":"tag-health","13":"tag-healthy-aging","14":"tag-importance-of-strength-training","15":"tag-longevity-fitness","16":"tag-muscle-loss-prevention","17":"tag-over-40-health","18":"tag-strength-training-benefits","19":"tag-the-doctors-kitchen-podcast"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107263"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107263\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}