PUMP UP YOUR LIFESPAN
Though “curls for the health benefits” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, this is your excuse to schedule in an arms day
Mediterranean diet? Done. Weekly Parkrun? Done. Less booze? Well, that’s a work in progress. You know the basics of keeping your heart healthy: a diet rich in whole foods, regular cardiovascular exercise and a reduction in your vices (or, at least, a valiant attempt to reduce them). So far, so dull.
Looking after your ticker is vital. A strong heart pumps blood more effectively around your body, helping to cut your risk of diabetes, improve your mood and boost your energy levels. Heart disease accounts for nearly a third of all deaths worldwide, according to the American Heart Association, and a study published in Neurology links a stronger heart to improved cognitive skills in older men.
Basically, if you keep things ticking along smoothly, you’ll live a longer, better life – even if the concept of less butter and more steady-state jogging doesn’t exactly get your pulse racing now.
Fortunately, new research shows that one of your most self-indulgent hobbies may lead to the strongest heart you can achieve. Yes, we’re talking about bicep curls. It’s often said that exercises designed to build so-called mirror muscles are purely aesthetic pursuits. Some older studies even linked muscle mass to a higher risk of heart problems. However, a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health at the end of 2019 shows that maintaining muscle-tissue volume can help to promote cardiovascular health in older men, and that in turn can reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.
Across the 10-year study, researchers observed more than 1,000 people over the age of 45 and found that men were four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than women. Not ideal for our target audience, you’ll agree. However, the researchers found a way to tip the odds back in your favour: the participants with the highest muscle volume were the least likely to experience heart problems, with an 81% reduction in heart attacks and strokes for the most gainful.
So, the next time you’re in the gym, why not dodge the cardio queue and take a seat in the preacher bench? You’ll end up getting your strongest pump yet.