Building muscle is magic for your immune system

Each time you lift a heavy dumbbell, do a lunge, or ride a bicycle, your muscles are also pumping out numerous proteins behaving as a hormone that’s pure powerful medicine for your immune system. This cascade of hormonal activity from building lean muscle works magic on your immune system making it stronger.

It’s known that exercise offers a wide range of health benefits from preventing disability to slowing memory decline. But a study in the journal Aging Cell, found exercise also protects the immune system.

Findings from study

Researchers with the study recruited 125 active adult cyclists between ages 55 and 79. Blood was drawn and analyzed for markers of T-cells, known to help the immune system fight infection. Results showed that individuals who remained physically active, such as bicycling regularly, had more plentiful immune cells (T cells) and maintained muscle mass. This active muscle mass produces hormones that maintain the size of the thymus, a gland that makes T cells. Normally as a person ages, the thymus shrinks. When these same cyclists were compared to people in their age group who did not exercise regularly, the nonexercisers produced less T cells than those who exercised regularly.

The immune system begins declining as early as our 20’s by about 2-3 percent each year. This is why by the time we reach age 65 plus, we are more susceptible to infections, along with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, and potentially cancer. The cyclists were found to have immune systems of a 20-year-old rather than someone of their older age. This means they have extra immune protection from various health conditions.

Maintaining muscle mass with age

The takeaway from this study is that having more T cells and memory T cells is key for detecting new infections, like coronavirus, as well as others you’ve encountered before.

When muscles are maintained through lifting weights or other physical activity, the proteins from your muscles also help protect against cancer. When you workout, your body gets a rush of a protein called interleukin-6 or IL-6. IL-6 is linked to the amount of muscle mass involved and how long you move.

Ideally, it’s best to strength train two to three days a week. Doing so will keep your muscles in good shape to fight off infections.

Dr. David Samadi is the Director of Men’s Health and Urologic Oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island. He’s a renowned and highly successful board certified Urologic Oncologist Expert and Robotic Surgeon in New York City, regarded as one of the leading prostate surgeons in the U.S., with a vast expertise in prostate cancer treatment and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy. Visit Dr. Samadi’s websites at robotic oncology and prostate cancer 911.