The Importance of Resistance Training

Resistance training or strength training is particularly important for the health of people all ages. Not only can it help counteract age-related muscle loss, but weight-bearing exercise is also one of the most effective remedies against osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is now becoming more and more prevalent among even children these days. The main cause of this is a lifestyle that lacks muscle resistance and muscle breakdown. (Jumping, running, climbing, lifting weights, etc…) Loss of bone mass used to be just a common sign of aging, because as you age your existing bone is absorbed by your body while new bone is created to replace it. In the case of osteoporosis, the formation of new bone falls behind the rate of bone absorption, leading to weakened, thinner and more brittle bones. In children, osteoporosis exists because they lack a healthy whole food diet (refer to my article “Detox to Good Health” which lists healthy whole food choices) and because they are more sedentary in their lifestyles.

Strength training dynamically stimulates your osteoblasts or bone building cells to help build new bone. In addition, as you build more muscle you also increase the amount of constant tension on your bones, which also helps keep them strong and resilient. Strength training also increases your body’s production of growth factors, which are responsible for cellular growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Some of these growth factors also promote the growth, differentiation, and survival of neurons, which helps explain why working your muscles also benefits your brain and helps prevent dementia. These benefits are just as beneficial to children, which is why participating in sports and/or a fitness camp is almost a requirement for good health in this next generation. To get a child off a virtual game and into a real one could be a life changer.(I also recommend families get off processed foods and change to eating whole foods…refer to “Detox to Good Health article”)