Muscles for health!
Are you looking to understand how muscles can contribute to your health status?
Do you want to know how to build healthy muscles?
Are you searching to comprehend the main benefits of building healthy muscles?
Perfect!
In this article, you’ll discover:
- The difference between unhealthy and healthy muscles
- How building muscles can become unhealthy.
- 10 ways muscle building benefits your health.
If this is interesting to you, keep reading!
- UNHEALTHY VS HEALTHY MUSCLES
- MUSCLES ARE ENERGY-DEMANDING
- HOW BUILDING MUSCLE CAN BECOME UNHEALTHY
- 10 WAYS MUSCLES ARE IMPORTANT FOR HEALTH
- MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: A RESERVOIR FOR GLUCOSE
- MUSCLES FOR METABOLIC HEALTH
- MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: INCREASED FITNESS
- MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: INCREASE WELL-BEING AND CONFIDENCE
- MUSCLES FOR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
- MUSCLES FOR HEALTHY BONE DENSITY
- MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: BODY COMPOSITION
- MUSCLES FOR IMMUNE SYSTEM HEALTH
- MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: REDUCED RISK OF INJURY
- MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: MOOD ENHANCEMENT
- CONCLUSION
UNHEALTHY VS HEALTHY MUSCLES
There’s a huge gap between bulky, inefficient muscles and building functional, interconnected fibers that excel in producing fluid and coordinated complex movements. Picture a bodybuilder with enormous muscles, built more for flexing but lacking practical, functional use.
On the flip side consider an elite sprinter: muscular, built for lightning speed, and producing power at incredible velocities! Or a gymnast holding their whole body with one hand balancing and seamlessly creating forces needed to switch positions.
Which type do you prefer to build?
MUSCLES ARE ENERGY-DEMANDING
Understand that building muscle and carrying it every day requires more energy.
So, by default, our body tends to get rid of every bit of muscle that is not used.
I bet you’ve already noticed as soon as you stop training, you gradually lose all your gains; Your body is returning to its default state, keeping only the required muscle fiber!
HOW BUILDING MUSCLE CAN BECOME UNHEALTHY
Building muscles can become unhealthy when we have unrealistic expectations. Gaining a lot of muscles in a short period is one example of such unrealistic expectations. Muscle building is a relatively slow process that requires training, frequency, and time.
So, if you are expecting that:
- You might attempt to use steroids to go beyond your normal physiological processes. The latter does not give you any true advantage (except building more muscles) and has significant long-lasting negative consequences on your hormones and overall health. Don’t do that!
- You might develop extreme eating behaviors such as an obsession to eat every hour, eating a lot of protein, and eating as many calories as possible, which becomes very unhealthy.
Another problem is pushing it to the extremes focusing on specific muscles and neglecting other parts. This creates imbalances, tightness, and injuries.
That is not the way to build healthy muscles!
10 WAYS MUSCLES ARE IMPORTANT FOR HEALTH
MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: A RESERVOIR FOR GLUCOSE
Muscles are a large reservoir for glucose; they store excess glucose as glycogen and contribute to blood-glucose control. When you eat a high-carb meal, if you have more muscles and have exercised previously, you can cope better with blood glucose spikes. You’ll handle glucose effectively and minimize negative consequences such as lethargy and tiredness.
MUSCLES FOR METABOLIC HEALTH
Along with blood glucose control, muscles allow your hormonal system to function better. Using your muscles and engaging in challenging exercises changes your hormonal milieu supporting good metabolic health. Also, increased blood flow allows for easier production and delivery of critical hormones and nutrients.
MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: INCREASED FITNESS
With more muscles usually comes more strength, especially if built from the correct perspective. More strength means ease of movement and feeling good in your body as you navigate the world. With weak muscles and poor fitness, you will feel debilitated in simple tasks and struggle to accomplish basic movements.
MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: INCREASE WELL-BEING AND CONFIDENCE
If you look in the mirror and all you see is a body you’re not proud of, your self-confidence takes a hit. You’ll start to perceive your life from that state of mind and struggle with your self-worth.
Now, imagine the opposite:
You see your dream body… Bam!
A surge of testosterone goes through your entire body!
Nothing can stop you!
You’ll perceive everything as extremely rewarding and pursue life with confidence. That’s the power of your body image.
MUSCLES FOR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
Your heart is a muscle and all your blood vessels are covered with smooth muscle cells. They also exercise anytime you do!
This boosts cardiovascular health, enhances blood flow, and improves oxygen and nutrient delivery. In other words, your entire system works better.
MUSCLES FOR HEALTHY BONE DENSITY
Resistance exercises engage your muscles and create extra load on your skeletal system. This increases your bone density and keeps your skeleton and joints robust!
MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: BODY COMPOSITION
With sufficient muscle mass, you’re more likely to maintain an optimal body fat percentage. Don’t forget, your muscles are energy-hungry, and so are workouts!
Resistance training 2-3 times a week will help you maintain optimal body composition and influence all the other variables mentioned here.
MUSCLES FOR IMMUNE SYSTEM HEALTH
Did you know that exercise boosts your immune system?
Picture your muscles as messengers sending inflammatory signals during workouts, prompting your immune system to respond. Then, it adapts to these signals and becomes more efficient at handling them.
Sickness is nothing more than increased inflammation that overloads your immune system! But with a well-trained immune system, you’re less likely to get sick!
MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: REDUCED RISK OF INJURY
Picture your musculoskeletal system reinforced with dense muscle pads, unbreakable tendon connections, and bone density that withstands any force. This makes you tougher, and ready to handle sudden surprises in everyday activities or athletic pursuits. Especially as we get older, muscles act as a shield against falls and sudden injuries.
MUSCLES FOR HEALTH: MOOD ENHANCEMENT
The best part of exercise is the incredible feeling you get afterward.
You’ve likely felt the endorphin rush after a good workout. If you haven’t, you’re missing out! This mood enhancement effect spills over into every part of your life improving focus, mood, relationships, problem-solving, decision-making, productivity, and more!
CONCLUSION
I hope you better comprehend the unhealthy muscle-building approach and how building muscle the healthy way can transform your life. Beyond building muscles for aesthetics, exercise is a powerful tool for overall success and well-being.
Make the best out of it!
Enjoy!