But that doesn’t mean that weight training isn’t good for your heart. It’s actually a lot more complicated than that. Each week, we ask fitness trainers to answer the most googled questions from women about weight training. This week, Zara Ozard and Emma Obayuvana, Strong Women ambassador, are explaining if and how weight training is good for your heart.

Is weight training good for your heart?

ZARA OZARD

“It is, because weight training increases lean muscle mass which improves blood flow. It can also help your heart to become stronger and therefore the blood can be pumped around the body more effectively. That helps to reduce blood pressure as there will be less strain on the arteries overall. It can also help lower cholesterol and keep your blood sugar levels stable. All of that in turn that helps reduce the chances of heart related problems and disease.

“Some new studies show that weight training can help heart health more than it has been thought to in the past. Iowa State University published one showing how weight training reduced the chance of having a heart attack or stroke by between 40 and 70%.”

Is weight training good for your heart? Fitness trainers explain if lifting helps your cardiovascular system