Everyone knows that an intense workout can leave you tired
and possibly sore the next day. But did you know that it may actually affect
the DNA in the muscles you used? A recent study
in the Journal Cell Metabolism has
shown that exercise changes the DNA of the muscles used. After exercise
skeletal muscle’s DNA was less methylated. (Methylation is a process your body
uses to turn on or off genes in your DNA.)
The decreased methylation after exercise was shown to lead
to increased production of certain genes involved in energy production. The
study shows that on a genetic and cellular component basis intense exercise
changes your skeletal muscle.
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| Image from Forbes.com |
The take home for this is that in addition to the improvement
to your fitness, your heart health and mental health, exercise is able to
change your body on a deep genetic level. But to achieve these results you need
to put in the effort, to get a truly intense workout.
Until recently, I did not realize how effective it could be to have a fun and intense workout. After working with an exercise physiologist, Buntha Kouy (of
BetaOFitness), I have found that
I have more success at achieving an intense workout and I have a blast doing it. Working with him I have found
that my body can do more than I thought (mostly through him pushing me to succeed), I have more energy and am happier. Even
without the idea that I am improving the DNA of my muscles I am excited about
my results! I highly recommend looking into working with someone like Mr. Kouy, who is a trained professional at getting your body to do more than you thought you could.
