6 Interesting Facts About Muscles

Muscles are talked about quite a bit in the health and wellness community. And for good reason: muscles help us move, they help us function, and the more lean muscle you have, the faster your metabolism. But what else do we know about muscles? Here are six fun facts you might not have heard about muscles and how they impact the body.

The Strongest Muscle Is...

Too tough to determine! You have probably heard at some point or another that the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body. However, because there are so many ways to measure muscle strength, it is too hard to determine which muscle is in fact the strongest. But just so you know, the gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the body, the calf muscle puts out the most force when used, and the jaw muscle exerts the most pressure.

Muscles Are Built During Sleep

Sure, when you go to the gym and lift weights you are working towards muscle strength. But it is during sleep that muscles actually grow. When you are in deep sleep mode, all those hardworking muscles of your can finally relax, allowing more blood circulation. In addition, hormones are released during sleep that contribute to the repair and restoration of tissues, which is crucial to new muscle tissue formation.

Muscles Provide Body Heat

And not just a little bit. In fact, your muscles create at least 85 percent of your total body heat. When muscles contract, they put off some serious warmth. This is why you shiver when you are cold. Your body is attempting to warm itself up by rapidly contracting and relaxing muscles. Isn’t it amazing that the body is so efficient and resourceful?

Muscle Gains Happen Quicker Than Losses

Surprising right? While you might lose some muscle is you ditch the gym for two months, you can gain a lot of muscle in that same amount of time. Here are the facts according to research: two months off the workout bandwagon led to a 23 percent loss of strength in study participants, whereas two months on the workout bandwagon led to a 47 percent increase in muscle strength.

Muscle Tissue Makes Up _____ Percent of Body Weight

What would your guess be? If you said anywhere from 35 to 40 percent, you would be correct! There are so many different types of muscle tissue in the body. Cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, and smooth muscle are their names, but they come in all shapes and sizes. In addition, there are around 650 skeletal muscle layers in the body.

*Disclaimer: Always consult your physician or other health care professional before seeking treatment or taking related advice herein.*

Story Credit: 6 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Your Muscles by Sarah Klein