Weight lifting offers far more than just muscle growth, there are numerous other physical health and well-being benefits.
A significant benefit of weight lifting is improved bone health. Weight lifting puts physical stress on the bones which can stimulate the cells that are responsible for bone growth. Over time, this process can help to promote or maintain growth in the bones minerals, leading to much denser, stronger and healthier bones. It can also help with offsetting natural future declines in bone mass. This is a real positive as it can decrease the risk of bone related injuries.
You feel stronger! As your muscles become stronger and you gain more mobility, daily tasks like carrying shopping bags or walking up the stairs start to become easier.
Weight lifting is also linked with better brain health and cognitive function in older adults. During weight training, the heart works harder to pump more blood around the body to get oxygen to your muscles and the brain, thus Improving blood flow, supporting neural connections and the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and endorphins which are all linked to mood regulation. Research has shown that it can also improve cognitive abilities, especially as you age, including decision making and memory. (1)
Regular weight lifting can increase the body’s need for rest and it has been shown to increase sleep quality by promoting more restorative/deep sleep. During deep sleep the body is able to carry out important recovery processes, including tissue growth, release of the growth hormone’s and muscle repair. Getting more deep sleep means the body has time to adequately repair the muscles ready for more training. (2)
Whether your goal is to support your long term heath, improve your fitness or just make everyday simple tasks easier, adding frequent weight training into your routine can contribute to better mental and physical well-being in the long term.
1 – https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/415534
2- https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/03/health/weight-training-sleep-wellness
