One benefit of weight lifting is that it lets you manage your weight and increase your metabolism to help you burn more calories. However, there’s so much more to this activity than meets the eye. In this article, you’ll learn about 10 health benefits you can get from lifting weights.
Your Bones Get Stronger
As you get older, your bones get weaker resulting in a condition known as osteoporosis. With weight lifting, you can keep your bones from worsening as the exercise triggers the cells forming bones in your body.
You Keep Your Balance
As you get older, your legs weaken, leading to fractures and falls. To improve your balance, you can use strength exercises like leg curls, leg presses, and leg extensions, making your lower half stronger.
You Lose Pounds
Strength training can help you reduce body fat and burn more calories. It also assists in keeping your muscles healthy to avoid injuries that can happen while doing aerobic exercises such as running or walking.
You Get More Flexible
Lifting weights can help you build muscles around your bones, essential for lubricating your joints and stopping bone loss. It also helps you prevent stiffness caused by conditions such as arthritis.
Your Muscles Get Healthier
Strength training helps you build up core areas like your abdominals and lower back. This helps you deal with back pain and also keeps your muscles in shape as you age.
You Have Less Odds of Type 2 Diabetes
According to different studies, strength training can help you prevent type 2 diabetes. This is because it can deal with many things connected to the condition, such as boosting your metabolism and helping your body process glucose.
Your Chances of a Heart Attack Go Down
According to one study, weight training for an hour weekly can reduce your chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke by up to 70%.
Your Brain Health Gets Better
According to multiple studies in older adults, strength training significantly improved cognitive functions such as memory, processing speed, and executive function.
Your Self-esteem Improves
Weight lifting helps you overcome challenges, strive towards a goal, and appreciate your body’s strength. Essentially, it increases your self-efficacy, which can greatly improve your confidence.
Your Mood Gets Better
Multiple studies have revealed that strength training could reduce anxiety and improve your mood. It also promotes the release of endorphins, which can play a major role in giving you a positive mood.
Conclusion
Weight lifting offers many benefits, including stronger bones, better brain health and mood, and healthier muscles. You can start your weight lifting using resistance bands, dumbbells, or heavy items around your house.
