Muscles Are Not Just For Looks They Are Crucial To Health
Many people have the notion that our muscles are just for looks and bodybuilders immediately spring to mind
. But they are not just for looks and are very important for our general health as well. Their condition is vital for us remaining strong, functional and disease free right through our adult lives.
If we do not use our muscles and do regular strength building and maintaining exercise we lose them at the rate of one half pound per year from the mid 20's. This rate accelerates as we get older and after the age 50 the rate doubles. Highly active muscle tissue makes up to 50 percent of our body weight so this loss drags down health and makes us more prone to disease.
Most of us are not aware of the important link between our muscles and our immune system. In fact their health and strength is essential for the proper functioning of your immune system which could well save your life.
Everybody knows that the human immune system is responsible for fighting off colds and infections. But are you aware that it finds and destroys cancer cells? Not doing enough muscle building and maintaining activity especially as you get older is a recipe for poor health. Strong toned muscle tissue is crucial for immune system health in two important ways:
Immune system strength depends on the availability of the amino acid glutamine and muscle tissue is the primary site in the human body where glutamine is formed and stored. The more toned muscle tissue you have the more abundant the supply is of this necessary fuel source for many cells of the immune system. Without it they cannot do their job keeping you protected from disease.
Protein that produces the new antibodies and white blood cells to fight infection or find and destroy cancer cells is stored in muscle tissue. It is an essential reserve that the body can call upon if necessary.
If you do not take care of your muscles especially as you get older they will shrink and weaken and lose their ability to create the cells you need to fight off illness and disease.
There is only one way to keep them strong and that is with proper strength training exercise which merely replaces the activity that has been removed from our modern technology driven lifestyles. Our bodies still need this activity and cannot adapt and remain healthy without it.
The reason older people have such a hard time recovering from illness and injuries are that they have lost so much muscle tissue through disuse. They do not have the reserves of protein which is the building blocks of new cells and tissues. So NEVER let yourself believe that your muscles are just for looks. They are your armor and protection from disease and the only way to keep them strong and healthy is with strength training exercise. Your local gym or fitness center is your best place to get started.