Muscle’s Benefits

Muscle is a star player in keeping your body happy and healthy in the long-term, for several reasons. For starters, lean muscle mass can help manage blood sugar, keeping type 2 diabetes at bay. In fact, one 2017 cohort study found a negative association between muscle mass and risk of developing type 2 diabetes. "The number one consumer of blood sugar in the human body is skeletal muscle," says Tim Church, a professor of preventive medicine. So, the more muscle you have, the greater your potential to metabolize blood sugar. Also, as you age, you'll want a healthy amount of muscle, rather than fat. "Muscle mass is a commonly overlooked marker of healthy aging," Church says. "You lose about 1-2% of muscle mass starting around age 40 or 45," he adds. This age-related decline in muscle mass is known as sarcopenia, and it's one of the biggest reasons many older adults can no longer do simple tasks without help. "You can't put your jacket on, you can't push yourself off the toilet, and you can't get yourself up off the ground after you fall," Church says. "It all comes down to strength and muscle mass." Even better news is that muscle can further help you maintain a healthy weight by raising your basal metabolic rate, or the number of calories you burn at rest. "That number has been widely discussed and argued over the years," says Joel Seedman, a neuromuscular physiologist. "But we do know the more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism." Lastly and least importantly, at least pertaining to health, the density of muscle might cause it to weigh more, which also means it takes up less space in the body. "If someone gains 10 pounds of muscle, a lot of times they'll barely notice it on their body," Seedman says.