You might not need to lift boulders, tires, or other heavy objects every day. But regardless of that, strength matters.
Being strong enough to take on daily tasks makes life easier. But strength goes further than physical ability. Research has indicated muscle strength can also provide insight into your risk for chronic illness.
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One way that muscle helps is through glucose metabolism. When you have strong muscle, your body has more area to store glycogen (sugar). This can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, fat storage, and type-2 diabetes.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine shows that grip strength is associated with future risk for type-2 diabetes.
The study found that apparently healthy adults that had weak grip strength were more likely to develop type-2 diabetes than those with a stronger grip. Grip strength is a good indicator of overall strength.
So, how do you get stronger?
Resistance exercise and proper nutrition. For muscle to become and remain strong, it has to be continuously built and challenged. It’s built and maintained with adequate protein consumption and challenged with weight-bearing exercise.
A great place to start is resistance bands. These elastics do not restrict natural movement patterns and provide versatility along the strength curve (which means you can adjust resistance where you want it). They can also be used virtually anywhere at any time.
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Some things to keep in mind when picking bands are resistance level, manufacturer, and components. It’s recommended to get a set of a few bands so you can reach appropriate levels of resistance. Your legs and back require more weight than your arms.
Purchasing a set that includes a door anchor is also worthwhile. This allows greater versatility for movements.
Building strength is about more than just lifting. Muscle helps improve metabolism and fight against chronic illness like type-2 diabetes. Resistance training can play a major role in your overall health and risk for disease.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
