Does Muscle Burn Fat?

When people have lost weight through exercise there is an old belief that the burning they feel is their fat being turned into muscle

. This has led to the question of "Does muscle burn fat?" in both medical and private circles. The answer to this question will make perfect sense to some and may enlighten others.

So does muscle burn fat? The answer is both yes and no. Fat and muscle are two different things inside the body. The human body has fat cells stored all over its structure so that it can make the best use of available space. The idea that when you exercise you're converting these storage areas into muscle is completely ridiculous. The burning sensation that a person feels when they exercise is the muscle cells being damaged and destroyed.

Muscles improve in strength and endurance by being destroyed and rebuilt. This is the way it works for all muscles in the body. A fat cell's sole purpose is to store fat and no matter how much exercising a person does nothing will change that. Aside from making the best use of available space the next reason that fat is everywhere on our bodies is for insulation.

So if the question of "Does muscle burn fat?" in fact had a direct answer of yes we would be destroying our body's only method of insulation against the cold. Most of the fat cells in a person's body are located in their upper and lower torsos. This area is often called the trunk and is where the vital organs are located. The brain does not need as much insulation due its composition and the amount of blood that flows through it.

However in a sense the question of "Does muscle burn fat?" is partially true from a broader perspective. While fat cells cannot change into muscle cells and muscles don't actively break down fat cells the process of metabolism links the two at a basic level. As muscles are destroyed and healed they need energy to rebuild themselves. The body burns extra stores of fat to provide this energy and speeds the healing process.

So by exercising you cause your body to burn off its extra weight. This is the only way that the question can facilitate an answer of "yes" but you should remember that the goal of exercising is not to lose weight. The purpose of exercising is to strengthen our muscles and endurance. Losing weight from the activity has always been a pleasant side effect.

The most effective ways to lose weight are to eat properly and drink plenty of water. It's important to note that prolonged exercising can burn off more weight than is healthy for the human body. While we may like the images of muscle builders with no fat on their bodies we have to remember that the body needs a minimum amount of weight for emergency situations.

So does muscle burn fat? From a technical standpoint the answer is yes but from a medical standpoint the answer is no. The answer is complicated but this is the way of things when it comes to the human body. What might be an easy process is in fact a complicated interconnected process that takes place over the entirety of the human body. Regardless exercise and weight loss go hand in hand and are important to helping you stay healthy and fit.

by: BrianGarvin

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