Who knew... Strength Training is the key to a long and happy life!
Did you know that just 30 to 60 minutes a week of muscle-strengthening exercises can increase your life expectancy by 10 to 17 percent?
The DVCC has been an advocate for the importance of muscle-strengthening exercises, such as resistance or strength training, in increasing your life expectancy and improving your overall well-being for a long time. It's not opinion, it's fact. And studies continue to prove this time and time again.
According to a recent review of 16 studies, it was found that regular strength training can lead to as much as a 17% increase in life expectancy. This is a significant finding that although is not new, should not be overlooked as it so often is.
Not only does strength training increase our life expectancy, but it also provides many other benefits that can improve our quality of life. Let's take a closer look at some of these benefits.
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Keeping your brain healthy: Studies have shown that strength training can help improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of cognitive decline as we age.
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Reducing your risk of future weight gain: Building lean muscle through strength training can increase our metabolism, which helps us burn more calories even at rest. This can help prevent future weight gain and maintain a healthy weight.
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Keeping your blood pressure under control: Regular strength training can help lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
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Slashing your risk of heart disease: Strength training can also improve cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, and improve overall cardiovascular health, lowering the risk of heart disease.
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Beating back diabetes: Strength training can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
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Being better poised to battle cancer: Research has found that regular strength training can help reduce the risk of some types of cancer, such as breast and colon cancer.
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Staying happier: Strength training can help reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression, improving our overall mood and well-being.
It almost sounds too good to be true doesn't it? How could lifting weights really impact all the things listed above? But we promise that even a small amount of strength training added to your weekly routine is a huge boon to your bodies ability to stay fit, strong and mobile as you mature.
If you do one thing for yourself this year, make it strength training!
