September 15, 2016 general

Sure, muscles can help you lift a gallon jug of milk and look good in a tank top. But, muscles do a lot more than that and it is easy to forget about them. You might be surprised just how critical muscle tissue is to overall health. For example:

• We know that exercise benefits the brain and exercise requires muscles.
• Muscles help us to be mobile so we can better enjoy life and maintain social networks.
• Muscles maintain our posture and therefore reduce the risk of skeletal problems and the pain those can bring. (Our chiropractor can put bones back where they belong, but our muscles have to keep them there.)
• Core muscle strength helps hold our organs in place.
• A strong core helps maintain balance and avoids falls.
• Muscles burn fat and help maintain healthy blood sugar.

Wasting away of muscle mass is a gateway to disease and is a typical (but not necessary) sign of aging. Those over age 60 with strong muscles have a 50% lower risk of an untimely death! The medical photos of muscles of a 74-year-old triathlete look just like those of a 40-year-old triathlete. (However, the muscles of a sedentary 74-year-old are not a pretty sight.)

It sure looks like we should pay attention to whether we are building muscles or tearing them down. Increasing muscle mass requires eating adequate high quality protein and a variety of nutrients. Of course, it also requires doing the kind of exercise that uses muscles. (Oops, strong thumb muscles from texting or hitting play on the remote do not count.)

Next week we will begin looking at what the science says about supplements for muscle building; what boosts muscle function and stamina; factors that interfere with muscle building; and what to do about muscle cramps.