Lifting Weights Can Control Blood Sugar [news]

The latest study finds an intriguing connection between weight-bearing exercises and a lower risk of diabetes. While lifting weights is more often associated with strengthening muscle and keeping bones healthy, those exercises primarily benefit what’s known as red muscle, which gets its color from mitochondria, the energy factories of cells. Red muscle is the core of endurance athletes’ strength and helps them to power through sustained workouts. But it turns out that another type of muscle, white muscle, which is more prevalent among sprinters, weightlifters and those who use resistance training, where short bursts of energy are critical, may play a role in regulating blood sugar.