Muscle is Medicine
Muscle is often associated with strength, athletic performance, and appearance. However, the benefits of building and preserving muscle go far beyond looking good and physical power. Muscle is essential to long-term health, contributing to disease prevention, metabolic efficiency, and overall well-being.
10 Reasons Why Building and Preserving Muscle is Critical to Overall Health
1 – Injury Prevention and Recovery
Building muscle helps absorb force and impact and protect joints and ligaments from strain and injury. When injured, individuals with higher muscle mass tend to recover faster, as muscles provide structural support and facilitate the healing process.
2
– Enhanced Mobility
Strong muscles support joint stability and balance, making it easier to perform activities of daily living and maintain independence, particularly in older age. This is essential for preserving quality of life and reducing injury risks.
3 – Increased Bone Density
Resistance training, which helps build muscle, also increases bone density. Stronger muscles exert more force on bones, causing them to grow denser reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, especially in older adults.
4 – Improved Metabolism
Muscle tissue is metabolically active, meaning it burns calories even when you’re at rest. The more muscle mass you have, the more energy your body uses, which can help in maintaining a healthy weight and preventing metabolic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
5 – Improved Metabolic Health
Building muscle helps improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin, allowing for better regulation of blood sugar levels. This can lower the risk of developing insulin resistance and diabetes, making muscle mass a key factor in metabolic health.
6 – Strengthened Immune System
Muscle plays an important role in supporting the immune system. During illness or injury, the body relies on muscle reserves to provide energy and amino acids that help fuel the immune response.
7 – Better Hormonal Balance
Muscle-building exercises, like strength training, stimulate the production of beneficial hormones such as testosterone and growth hormone. These hormones are essential for muscle maintenance, fat metabolism, and overall vitality, particularly as we age.
8 – Improved Mental Health
Physical activity, particularly resistance training, has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Building muscle releases endorphins, which can enhance mood and improve mental well-being.
9 – Increased Longevity
Studies have shown that individuals with higher muscle mass tend to live longer. Muscle strength and physical function are linked to better outcomes in aging, reducing the risk of disease, falls, frailty, and hospitalization.
10 – Better Heart Health
Muscle health is closely linked to cardiovascular health. Regular strength training can help lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and reduce the risk of heart disease by promoting healthier blood vessels and metabolic function.
Building and maintaining muscle is a vital investment in long-term health, providing benefits that go well beyond physical appearance. Muscle truly is medicine—supporting metabolic health, disease prevention, mental well-being, and longevity. Remember if you don’t use it, you lose it so lift something heavy today!
Yours in health & fitness,
Sherri McMillan
Sherri McMillan
Sherri McMillan, holds a master's degree in exercise physiology and has been inspiring the world to adopt a fitness lifestyle for more than 33 years. She has received numerous industry awards including 2010 CanFitPro International Presenter of the Year, 2006 IDEA Fitness Director of the Year, 1998 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, 1998 CanFitPro Fitness Presenter of the Year and 2005/2006 ACE Fitness Educator of the Year - Runner up. She is a fitness trainer, fitness columnist for various magazines and newspapers, author of five books and manuals including "Go For Fit - the Winning Way to Fat Loss" and "Fit over Forty" and the featured presenter in various fitness DVDs. She has presented hundreds of workshops to thousands of fitness leaders throughout Canada, Australia, Mexico, Jamaica, New Zealand, Germany, England, Spain, South America, Asia and the U.S. She is the owner of Northwest Personal Training in downtown Vancouver, the founder of WHY Racing Events & WHY Community, participates in various community fundraisers and can be found running, biking, or hiking around the community. Find more information at nwpersonaltraining.com.