MYTHBUSTERS

THREE EXPERTS UNPICK COMMON HEALTH AND FITNESS MYTHS

Pilates can help you create long and lean muscles

kathy kleiver

BASI-certified Pilates instructor, Bodytree Studio

bodytreestudio.com Developed nearly a century ago, Pilates is a system of exercises touted for improving flexibility, strength, coordination, balance and posture while emphasising the importance of a strong core. Due to these attributes, it is widely embraced by dancers who typically have long, lean muscles. Unfortunately, if you weren’t born with this body type, Pilates isn’t going to change that. But when done consistently and with proper form, Pilates can teach you how to fully extend and contract your muscles, giving the illusion of added length and definition. While you may not transform into a leggy supermodel or buff action star, you will notice definite changes and improvements in your body. Too much exercise actually lowers your immune system

Jonathan Gregory

Personal trainer, Stay Fit LLC

stayfitme.com Too much exercise can impact and lower your immune system but this rarely relates to the general population. It can be common amongst elite endurance athletes (marathon runners, triathletes, etc) who train for extremely long periods with minimal recovery. In general, exercise has a positive effect on most people’s immune system – it actually boosts the performance of the cells responsible for attacking bacteria. For people who do little to no exercise these cells are not so efficient and leave you more susceptible to sickness. Personally I have always been a big advocator of ‘movement as medicine’ and would encourage everyone to move more and improve your overall health and wellbeing. Sweat is so good for you it eliminates toxins in your body

della adriano

Konga trainer, Tone Fitness Abu Dhabi

facebook.com/tonefitness.ae As much as we want to believe and say that it does, no it doesn’t eliminate toxins. You can’t ‘sweat it out’, as the saying goes. Your sweat is mainly composed of 99 per cent water including a small amount of salt, proteins, carbohydrates and urea (that’s Carbamide, the diamide of carbonic acid). The glands are on the skin itself and are not connected to any other system in your body. What sweating does is to keep our body cool and that’s it. It is through key organs including your liver, intestines and or kidneys that you eliminate toxins, not your sweat glands. To help your body remove toxins, it would be best to make healthier choices when it comes to food and drink intake.