The Systemic Benefits of Exercise and Muscle

Low muscle mass and low strength are associated with increased risk of mortality from all causes. If you exercise, you trigger all of these other systemic adaptations that improve your metabolic health. Lower inflammation, lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, improve mitochondrial function. So just the mere act of exercise itself is the reason why muscle mass and muscle strength is associated with better health outcomes. Let's say even if you didn't build any muscle or strength, you would gain a lot of those similar benefits. But having more muscle, muscle that also has benefits for your metabolic health, because muscle is very hungry for glucose, especially if you are exercising regularly. And you'll have a better insulin sensitivity and metabolic health if you have more muscle, you're able to eat more calories without gaining weight and without raising your blood sugar too high. So just from a metabolic standpoint, having more muscle is very beneficial.