Not that we need another reason to lift weights, but latest research suggests it could help us live longer by changing the size of our red blood cells.
Why is this important?
Because when all of our red blood cells are the same size our chance of developing fatal cardiovascular disease is much less.
Scientists don't know how this happens, or even how pumping weights keeps our red blood cells the same size.
All they know is, thanks to this recent research it just might!
Red Blood Cell Width Distribution
The Red Blood Cell Width Distribution (RDW) is an indicator of the variation in size of one's red blood cells.
When the RDW is lower - the more consistent the red blood cells are in size.
Researchers do know one thing for sure - those with a small RDW are much less likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those with a higher RDW.
Lifting Weights For a Longer Life
I've told you before how lifting weights can make you live longer - and I'm excited to give you another potentially solid reason witthin this article!
So how did they come to this conclusion?
Researchers sought data from the National Health and National Examination Surveys; examining information on 8257 adults, some of whom lifted weights.
As an observation they found the more the subjects trained, the lower their RDW was.
In fact every 2 workouts per week were found to reduce the chance of a high RDW by 11%.
BODYBUILDING AND FITNESS FOR A LONGER LIFE
And it gets even better - the researchers think that people who really push themselves, like bodybuilders or real fitness fanatics, will benefit even more!
This is because the people in this study had only a tiny 500g MORE lean body mass than the average person; they don't train that hard obviously.
So if you're really pushing it, the researchers think you could be benefiting even more!
Now of course with this being an observational study it's not gospel, but the initial promising signs are evident.
The researchers conclude:
"These findings suggest an inverse association between muscle strengthening activities and Red Blood Cell Width Distribution....Although speculative, these findings suggest that Red Blood Cell Width Distribution may be one potential mechanism through which muscle strengthening activities may reduce an individual's risk of cardiovascular disease."
The authors go on to point out more study is needed, but still, it's not a bad little finding regardless.
Just another reason to lift weights.....share it around!
"Stay Fit, Stay Flexed!"
REFERENCES
(1) Loprinzi PD, Loenneke JP, Abe T. The association between muscle strengthening activities and red blood cell distribution width among a national sample of U.S. adults. Prev Med. 2015 Apr;73:130-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.01.011. Epub 2015 Jan 17.
Author
Dayne Hudson