Strength training can offer a plethora of benefits for health and wellness. Not only does it make one stronger, but it also helps with fat burning, as well as preserving health and longevity. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in an article titled “Evidence Mounts on the Benefits of Strength Training,” “A recent meta-analysis found that people who do muscle-strengthening workouts are less likely to die prematurely than those who don’t, adding to previous evidence that strength training has long-term health benefits.”

The article elaborated, stating that “The study found that just 30 to 60 minutes a week of strength training may be enough. Those who worked out for this duration had a 10 [percent] to 20 [percent] lower risk of dying during the study period from all causes, and from cancer and heart disease specifically, compared to those who did no strength training.” Interestingly, “The benefits plateaued after one hour, and decreased after two hours,” showing that overdoing it may be harmful or not allow one to reap the same benefits.

U.S. exercise guidelines, according to the article, recommend that adults strength train all major muscle groups twice a week. I-Min Lee, professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, stated that strength training exercises “‘improve glucose metabolism, enhance maintenance of healthy body weight, and help improve cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure … All these factors lead to lower risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, which lowers mortality risk.’”

For more information, visit www.hsph.harvard.edu.

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