Do you know lifting weights is good for you but you still need persuading...? Read on!
Michael Mosley highlights in an interesting podcast how it can be great for not only your body but your mind too. Beyond just building muscle, weight training helps improve overall health, including heart and immune system function, and can even boost cognitive abilities and promote longevity.
Benefits you might not be aware of:
- Lowers Blood Sugar: Weight training enhances metabolism and insulin sensitivity, helping to lower blood sugar levels after meals.
- Boosts Immune System: Regular resistance training activates immune cells, making the body better at fighting infections.
- Promotes Longevity: Maintaining muscle mass reduces the risk of chronic diseases (like Type 2 diabetes and heart conditions), which in turn lowers the risk of cognitive conditions such as dementia.
- Reverses Aging Effects: Weight training stimulates neurotrophic factors, promoting neuron growth and supporting brain health.
- Improves Cognitive Function: Strength training boosts associative memory and decision-making in both healthy individuals and those with cognitive impairments.
- Myokines and Brain Health: Myokines released during muscle contractions help promote brain function by increasing BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor).
Hopefully that has encouraged you to pick up the weights! You can listen to the podcast here.
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