Why is Strength Training Important in Your Life?

The benefits of strength training are well documented. While weight training improves mood, cardiovascular exercise is equally beneficial. Both pump your body full of feel-good chemicals. Endorphins, dopamine, and adrenaline are released when you move your body. These chemicals improve your mood by making you confident and upbeat. These are all reasons why it is important to do aerobic exercise. Even if you do not have any depression or anxiety, you can still reap the benefits of strength training.

Research shows that strength training can decrease arthritic pain. Strength training is a good way to maintain an active lifestyle and relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis, particularly in the weight-bearing joints. Strength training is best done with the guidance of a physical therapist or certified personal trainer, as these professionals are familiar with the condition and can design a program that will be effective and safe for your particular condition.

A study of 8,500 men found that men who exercised regularly with weights had a 30 to 40 percent lower risk of developing a tumor. This finding is an outlier in today's world, where people rarely engage in physical activity. If every person exercised regularly, they would have a 40 percent lower cancer risk, while those who did not would have a six-fold increase. Strength training increases the body's natural killer cells, a defense mechanism that will eventually fight cancer.

When strength training, your body releases endorphins, a chemical that boosts your energy levels. Your body's response to exercise is affected by the type of nutrients it consumes. Protein and carbohydrates, as well as water, are essential for energy. Exercise induced endorphins increase your mood, which makes you feel better. You can also increase energy by adding protein shakes to your workouts. These can boost your energy levels while replenishing glycogen lost during exercise.

Studies have shown that strength training can increase metabolism by 15 percent. This increase is caused by the fact that strength training stimulates the body to burn fat. When performed correctly, strength training works to increase muscle mass. When performing strength training, the body has to use several sources of energy, including anaerobic systems and the heart. Moreover, high-intensity strength training signals the body that it will need large amounts of carbohydrates during high-intensity work. Hence, muscle will use fat instead of carbohydrates during such high-intensity work.

Researchers say that strength training may improve brain function. One of the studies to support this theory involved a study of 100 people, some of whom had been diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer's disease. The scientists scanned the participants' brains using an MRI machine to determine if strength training increased activity in the brain. The participants were instructed to lift weights twice a week and kept the weights at 80 percent of their maximum capacity. The results were striking, suggesting that the benefits of exercise go beyond merely improving physical fitness.