According to scientists, it could be possible that we can get the benefits of exercise without lifting a finger. A study that was done on mice and flies found when the creatures were forced to produce a protein released during exercise, they become more fit.
The animals were then given the protein, named Sestrin, without doing any workout at all, and they still gained muscle, they became fitter and they burned more fat. The same kind of protein is made in researchers and humans and it suggested that forcing the body to produce the said protein, or making a supplement out of it, could get people fit without them exercising.
Protein released during a workout
A team of researchers from the University of Michigan did the test on mice and flies to check how Sestrin affected their bodies. The leader of the study, Dr. Myungkin Kim, stated that researchers have previously observed that Sestrin accumulates in muscle following a workout.
Dr. Kim and his colleagues believed that the production of Sestrin during a workout was what produced benefits in the body. Exercising can increase the flow of blood and oxygen in the skin, brain and vital organs, and it also strengthens the bones and muscles.
Exercise can also improve the ability of the lungs to draw in oxygen, and the arteries and the heart to pump blood through the body. Also, exercise can help people stay fit and reduce the risk of having any diseases including type 2 diabetes and cancer. However, millions of people do not get enough exercise. For some, such as those with disabling illnesses and those in old age, this can mean that their muscles waste away.
The research stated that finding a way to deliver the benefits of exercise without moving could help those types of patients. They did their study by developing a treadmill for flies, which had a natural inclination to climb upwards out of a test tube. By forcing the flies to work their way out of the tube for three weeks, they found out that those which were modified to produce extra Sestrin became stronger than the normal flies, even if they did not exercise.
In fact, working out did not appear to make any sort of difference at all to the fitness of the flies. And the flies which were stopped from producing Sestrin at all did not become stronger, even if they exercise a lot.
In a study in which mice were stopped from producing Sestrin, they did not improve their fitness or burn their fat when they exercised. Dr. Jun Hee Lee stated that this independent study highlights that Sestrin alone is sufficient to produce a lot of benefits from exercise and physical movements.
Sestrin molecules are usually too big to be made into a supplement, the scientists said, so their work is still ongoing. The study can be read in the journal Nature Communications.
How much exercise do you need to do?
In order to stay healthy, adults from the age range of 19 to 64 should try to be active every day. They should have at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity like brisk walking and cycling every week and strength exercises on 2 or more days a week that work all of the major muscles like hips, legs, back, chest, abdomen, shoulders, and arms.
Or they can go for 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity like running or playing tennis every week and strength exercises on 2 or more days a week that work all of the major muscles like hips, legs, back, chest, abdomen, shoulders, and arms.
They can also opt for a mix of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity every week. They can go for 30-minute runs plus 30 minutes of brisk walking twice a week and strength exercises on 2 or more days a week that will work all of the major muscles.
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