Exercise is essential for maintaining health. It is also the best way to build muscle. The time it takes to build muscle varies from person to person, however there are guidelines that can help you maximize individual benefits.
The best way a person can increase muscle mass is through proper exercise and diet.
Constantly challenging the muscles when they must handle higher levels of resistance or more mass can lead to muscle gain or hypertrophy. Muscle hypertrophy occurs when the fibers in the muscle are damaged, then the body repairs the damaged fibers by fusing them together, thereby increasing muscle mass and size.
Some studies show that satellite cell activation can determine how quickly and to what extent a person's muscle can grow. Hormones such as testosterone, human growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor also play a role in muscle development and repair.
Although research shows that both sexes can build muscle through strength training, women tend to build muscle more slowly than men.
In addition, those with initially more muscle mass will experience faster and more noticeable muscle changes than those who choose to build muscle and have less muscle mass. Hormones, age and body size also play a role in this process. It should also be noted that as the body builds muscle, the rate at which it does so slows down.
People build muscle at different rates, but the likelihood of building muscle is significantly increased if the exercise is consistent, exhausting, done over a long period of time, and alternated with rest.
The best form of muscle-building exercise is strength training, although cardio is beneficial as well. It takes several weeks or months of consistent physical activity and exertion before muscle changes are noticeable.
According to the 2015–2020 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should engage in exercise to strengthen all muscle groups at least 2 times a week. Older people should also try to adhere to these guidelines whenever possible.
When it comes to cardio, exercise is important for overall health, and this guideline indicates that adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week.
While some people believe that aerobic activity is not conducive to muscle building, recent research disproves this idea. Regular cardio can help muscle growth and function. It also improves your overall fitness level and can also help reduce your risk of injury.
Scientists believe that for optimal muscle building, aerobic exercise should be performed 4-5 times a week for 30-45 minutes at a time https://megasalesss.blogspot.com/2020/12/mass-extreme-drug-for-muscle-building.html, based on 70-80% of the heart rate reserve (calculated by subtracting the heart rate during exercise from the maximum heart rate).
Rest also plays an important role in building muscle. Failure to provide adequate rest for each muscle group reduces their ability to recover, slows down progress in muscle building, and increases the risk of injury. According to experts, strength training should not be done on one muscle group for 2 consecutive days.
Getting enough sleep is also important for the muscle growth process. Research shows that sleep deprivation impairs protein synthesis, contributes to muscle loss and difficulty in muscle recovery.
Reducing stress levels can also help build muscle, as hormones released during times of stress have a negative effect on skeletal muscle.
Following a balanced and healthy diet is key to maintaining health. When it comes to building muscle, protein intake is especially important. Adults are advised to consume 0.8 g of protein per 1 kg of body weight per day. The timing of protein intake can also matter. Thus, 20 g of protein taken during or immediately after training helps to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, reduce protein breakdown and lead to more efficient muscle recovery. Good sources of protein include meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, soybeans, tofu, and more.