More and more benefits of strength training are being discovered. While all forms of exercise can add value to your health, strength training definitely packs a ton of amazing benefits. From improved strength and flexibility to better bone health and controlled body fat, strength training (like bench pressing, squats, deadlifts, and arm curls) will make you look and feel better.
The following are beneficial benefits of strength training.
1. Improved Sleep Quality
According to the Sleep Foundation, building muscle and strength training can “improve the quality of sleep, and it can also help you fall asleep faster and wake up less frequently throughout the night.”
“Better sleep quality in itself has a ton of benefits in a person’s overall wellness,” one fitness expert says. These benefits include lowered risk of diseases, improved mood, and weight management, among others.
2. Reduced Stress
Many of us are feeling extra stress and anxiety these days. One great way to combat your stress is with strength training exercises.
“Exercise endorphins lead to relaxation,” say experts. It can also help reduce anxiety symptoms and stabilize your overall mood.
3. Builds Your Brain
Strength training is good for the brain. “Lifting weights ads more than just muscle. Studies show it can actually stimulate connections in the brain and enhance cognitive function,” says Founding Celeb Trainer, Joey Thurman, CES, CPT, FNS.
4. May Lower Risk of Dementia
“According to a recent study, resistance training appears to help thicken the gray matter in a part of the brain that is often affected in early Alzheimer’s disease and it also appears to help build brain cells,” says Thurman.
If you know dementia and Alzheimer’s runs in your family, strength training may be beneficial for you.
5. Improves Endurance
If you’re someone who enjoys cardio workouts then strength training should be added to your exercise regimen. One may not think cardio and strength training necessarily go hand in hand, but gaining stronger muscles will help your cardio sessions be more efficient by way of more force production and work economy.
Don’t neglect strength training exercises.
6. Better Posture & Injury Prevention
The benefits of strength training also include better posture and even preventing injury, because it increases the strength in the body’s tendons and ligaments (connective tissues).
If you’re in an office most of the day, this may be especially beneficial for you!
7. Reduced Risk of Osteoporosis
While there are benefits of strength training for both men and women, “as women get older and reach menopause, their levels of estrogen decrease, and because of this, their chances of osteoporosis are much higher.
Strength training throughout one’s life may increase bone density and keep one’s bones strong.
Also, many women believe this myth they’ll become bulky if they practice strength training.
Women don’t have the same amount of testosterone as men do and therefore cannot really gain significant size in their bodies, but rather obtain a more femininely toned and defined physique.
For frequently asked questions about strength training, click here.
Some of this content was published here.
