10 fewer mentioned benefits of strength training!

1. Okay, strength training makes you stronger. But if you don't necessarily want to become a broad bundle of muscles, what good is it? Well… more than you think! In addition to muscle growth, there are many other benefits of strength training that do not always receive enough attention.

1. That is why we list ten less mentioned benefits of strength training in today's blog. So you see: there is plenty of reason to get started with weights - even if you don't necessarily need a six-pack.

10 benefits of strength training

1. This advantage is often mentioned, but is still unknown to many people. It works like this: by doing strength training, you build relatively more muscle tissue. And muscle tissue is relatively “active” in your body, so it uses more calories than fat throughout the day.

1. The result is that strength training burns more energy throughout the day. Not only while you are exercising, but also while you just sit quietly on the couch! This is one of the reasons that strength training is often recommended if you want to lose weight.

1. Many people suffer from a (mild) imbalance in their hormones. This is due to many factors - from poor nutrition to too much stress to too little exercise. Strength training is one of the activities that stimulate the hormones that many people are deficient in!

1. For example, you produce more testosterone and growth hormone after a workout. Not only does this increase muscle growth, it also counteracts the cortisol and estrogen surplus that many people suffer from.

1. Another plus when it comes to hormones: strength training improves your insulin sensitivity. In short, this means that your cells respond better to the hormone insulin. So you need to make less of it to be able to absorb the same amount of glucose from your blood.

2. Another plus when it comes to hormones: strength training improves your insulin sensitivity. In short, this means that your cells respond better to the hormone insulin. So you have to make less of it to absorb the same amount of glucose from your blood.

1. That's good news, because declining insulin sensitivity is the first step towards diabetes. Improved sensitivity also ensures a more stable blood sugar level. That means you have less problems with mood swings and after dinner dips, for example.

2. That's good news, because declining insulin sensitivity is the first step towards diabetes. Improved sensitivity also ensures a more stable blood sugar level. That means you have less problems with mood swings and after-dinner dips, for example.

1. And it seems that strength training has positive influences on your mood anyway. The main reason for this is that you produce endorphins during exercise. That is a substance that will make you feel happier and happier.

1. In addition, strength training also improves your sleep. It goes without saying that this also has a positive effect on your quality of life!

2. In addition, strength training also improves your sleep. It goes without saying that this also positively affects your quality of life!

1. One of the often forgotten benefits of strength training that is also mental rather than physical: it improves your cognitive functioning. It is not yet fully understood why this is, but the improved blood flow to your brain may have something to do with it. That means that your brain is supplied with more oxygen.

1. What is clear: strength training, for example, helps to combat cognitive deterioration later in life. Even if you only start training as an older person, it slows down the effects of Alzheimer's, for example. And the sooner you start, the better it is of course.

2. What is clear: strength training, for example, helps to combat cognitive deterioration at a later age. Even if you only start training as an older person, it slows down the effects of Alzheimer's, for example. And the sooner you start, the better of course.

1. But there are plenty of purely physical benefits too. Your attitude, for example. You will stand and sit better, especially by training your back, abdominal and shoulder muscles. That will make you appear taller and more confident.

1. In addition, a better posture helps to prevent back pain. If you use good technique, strength training has indeed been found to reduce the risk of lower back pain. Neck and shoulder pain are also less common.

1. Do you do any other sport besides strength training? Or do you simply have a relatively active lifestyle? Well-trained muscles can then reduce the risk of injury. This is mainly because strength training not only strengthens your muscles, but also your tendons and ligaments.

1. It is precisely a bad balance between muscle strength and these â € supportingâ € ™ tires that often causes problems. For example, you put too much load on tendons and therefore create tears. Strength training ensures that your body develops in a balanced way!

1. And that better development of your tendons and muscles also ensures that you become more flexible. So it is not the case that strength training makes you stiff and rigid, as is often thought. This only applies if you train your muscles very unilaterally and maybe at times when you have muscle pain.

1. If you train your entire body in a good way, it will provide more flexibility. In fact, strength training provides even more flexibility than stretching.

1. One of the benefits of strength training that is useful later in life: your bone density increases. This reverses the loss of bone mass that normally occurs with age.

1. This is mainly an advantage because it can prevent osteoporosis or bone loss. Especially in women this is a cause of many broken and bruised bones in old age!

1. Finally, like all forms of sport, strength training is good for the heart and blood vessels. It lowers your blood pressure and trains the condition of the heart. This reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.

1. Several studies also show that strength athletes on average have a lower cholesterol level. This also reduces the risk of problems with the heart and blood vessels, especially as you get older.