Sunday, June 24, 2012

What Are Muscles

















What are muscles?
Let's start with the definition as defined by Dictionary.com
Muscles - (noun)
  1. a tissue composed of cells or fibers, the contraction of which produces movement in the body.
  2. an organ, composed of muscle tissue, that contracts to produce a particular movement.
  3. muscular strength; brawn: I will take a great deal of muscle to move this box.
  4. power or force, especially of a coercive nature: They put muscle into their policy and sent the marines.
  5. lean meat. 
Muscles are an organ in the body that produce movement.  They are essential to life as we know it.  Muscles help us walk, breath, talk and pretty much do everything throughout our day.

We have more than 640 individual muscles in our bodies.  Here are 5 fun facts about muscles:
  1. It takes 17 muscles to smile and43 to frown
  2. The 2 strongest muscles in our bodies are the heart and tongue.
  3. We use 200 muscles to take 1 step.
  4. We are about 1 cm taller in the morning than in the evening.
  5. It takes twice as long to lose new muscles if you stop working out than it did to gain it.
Reference:  gochiropractice.com

There are several easy things we can do to keep our muscles healthy.  
Vitamin D
  • Getting enough vitamin D can help reduce your risk of muscle weakness or pain. A lack of vitamin D can result in weakened muscles. You may be at risk for a vitamin D deficiency if you live in an area where your exposure to sunlight is limited, you are older, you are overweight, you have a darker skin tone and you spend time outdoors, but you always cover up your skin with clothing or sunscreen.  Read more: Click Here


Strength Training
  •  Strength training can help you build your muscles, which can help keep your muscular system healthy. Having muscle tone helps to protect your organs, gives you balance and helps you avoid bone fractures.

    Simply by engaging in strength training three times a week for at least 20 minutes each session, you can gain a healthy amount of muscle strength. Workout two to three muscle groups each session and gradually increase the amount of weight you can lift over time to avoid injury.  Joining a group of people that are weight training will significantly increase your desire to continue this habit.  Here's one resource that can be used for motivation.  This is the program that I use to stay motivated to train my muscles; My Program  To read more about Strength Training: Click Here
     
Avoid Smoking
  • Cigarette smoking can impair the protein synthesis that is required for healthy skeletal muscles. According to the findings of an international study published in 2007 in the "American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism," cigarette smokers had lower levels of the protein synthesis needed for skeletal muscles. Cigarette smoking can also negatively affect the health of your cardiac muscles, which are needed to keep your heart healthy and pumping effectively.

    To maintain your muscle health, it is important to quit smoking or avoid it entirely. Secondhand smoke can also negatively affect your muscle health and should be avoided as much as possible.  Read more: Click Here
 Drink Water
  • Just plain old water, bottled or tap water, not a water type beverage is what your body needs.  Adequate fluid intake can keep you hydrated and help maintain the health of your muscles. Dehydration can lead to muscle cramping. By drinking enough water throughout your day and when you are working out, you can avoid muscle cramps and keep your muscles healthy. The amount of water you need to drink will depend on your activity level, size and gender, but in general, most people need to drink at least eight glasses, each containing 8 oz. of water each day. Water does not have to be the only beverage or food you can consume to keep hydrated. Unsweetened teas, calorie-free flavored waters, fruits and vegetables can all help you ward off dehydration.  However, beverages should not be a complete substitute of your pure water intake.  Read more: Click Here


As Always
Thank you for reading my blog !!

Sincerely,
Ben Wilson
Knowledge is Power - Shared Knowledge is Empowerment

Living Healthy is Easier in a Group of Healthy People that Challenge You
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