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Train hard in the gym for a killer body, but then smoke a cigarette immediately after exercising. We all have that friend who says he “really deserved it” after a workout. We have only one thing to say to him: stop this nonsense. Because you get in the way of yourself and your muscle growth.
Quit smoking
After all these years and research, you may now know that smoking is bad for you. Smoking causes all kinds of cancer, cardiovascular disease, lung disease and other ailments. Yet about one in six Dutch people still smoke regularly. Not surprising, since the nicotine in those things is so incredibly addictive. Can’t manage to smoke your last cigarette? Perhaps the following negative effect of smoking on your sports performance can finally convince you.
Smoking inhibits muscle growth
Smoking not only has a negative effect on your condition, it also slows down your gains – according to one American research. In this study, the muscle growth of long-term smokers is compared with non-smokers. What seems? Protein synthesis, which is the process that ensures that your muscles recover and grow after a heavy workout, is no less than 37% lower in smokers.
In addition, 45% more of the protein myostatin is found in the group of smokers. This protein is a natural inhibitor of muscle growth and an increase in your myostatin level ensures that your workouts yield less gains. Okay, this study looks at long-term, heavy smokers. But it is plausible that, even in less frequent smokers, this could be the reason you are building little muscle mass. Another reason to finally quit smoking now, otherwise your hard-earned gains will literally go up in smoke.
2023-05-15 14:17:15
#Research #Cigarettes #gains #smoke
