The model of masculinity has changed and with it several other things.
Harry Styles (Photo: GettyImages)
The model of masculinity has undergone many positive changes in recent decades.
Nowadays, many people understand that it is not a weakness to show emotions, to admit flaws and also to be more connected to the soft and gentle side that lies in all of us.
Moreover, today we understand that all these are actually signs of mental strength, which can prevent a lot of emotional problems and strengthen the relationship, family life and career.
But alongside all these important changes, it is also worth examining other aspects of our strength, which actually went backwards as humanity progressed.
In an interesting study conducted at Winston Salem University in the United States, for example, researchers wanted to check the gaps in the physical strength of young people today, compared to previous generations.
To do this, they focused on compressive strength tests (applying compressive force with the palm of the hand) and pinch strength (pressing with two fingers).
The data was collected on men between the ages of 20 and 34 and compared to similar data collected on men in the same age group in the 1980s.
This is because, according to the researchers, these are two indicators that fairly reliably assess the physical strength of all of us.
Their findings, published in the Journal of Hand Therapy, revealed unsurprising but alarming findings - an average 22 percent decrease in the physical strength of young people today (Generation Y or Millennials for you) compared to their parents' generation (Generation X or the "Baby Boomerz").
And if that's not enough, they also estimate that the same test will show even bleaker results among Generation Z and future generations.
A comfortable life - a high health price
In this study, the researchers also provided a possible explanation for the phenomenon, which certainly won't surprise you.
In today's reality, many of us spend whole days in front of the computer, phone and television, and less in physical and demanding jobs.
Such a life is indeed considered more comfortable, but we all understand that this comfort comes with a price that should not be ignored.
People lose an average of 3 to 5 percent of their muscle mass every decade (Photo: ShutterStock)
Physical strength continues to decrease as you get older - but this is not a given
In an article by Harvard University, they extensively covered that study and emphasized that it is only a small part of a much more complex, deep and significant problem.
As we know, as we age, the body becomes weaker and therefore it is also more prone to injuries, muscle atrophy and various types of medical problems.
This gradual loss of muscle mass also has a scientific name - sarcopenia and is a natural part of the human maturation process.
After the age of 30, people lose an average of 3 to 5 percent of their muscle mass every decade and they will usually lose no less than 30 percent of their muscle mass cumulatively by the end of life.
In addition, a 2015 report by the American Bone and Mineral Research Association found that people who suffer from decreased muscle mass have a 2.3 times greater risk of suffering fractures after falls. This is why these unfortunate injuries are so common, complex, and sometimes even fatal among seniors. If anything Today, older people suffer from these problems as a result of a decrease in muscle mass, one can only speculate how profound this effect will be on the younger generations when they grow up, and especially on those who do not exercise or follow a healthy diet regularly.
So it is true, in the future medicine will also continue to develop and may also offer new and effective ways to deal with these challenges, but until that happens (or not), we should all take responsibility for our bodies and work to increase physical strength and prevent this expected deterioration.
How do you do that?
You can probably guess by yourself.
In maintaining the strength of the body, there is no hidden Torah that you do not know, but simply a combination of strength training, aerobic training and proper nutrition, with an emphasis on sufficient consumption of proteins.
It's not just that proteins keep bodybuilders and athletes so busy.
This is the most important component that helps both to build muscles and to prevent a decrease in muscle mass among those who do not exercise.
A study published in this regard in the journal Nutrients recommends that everyone consume between 1 gram and 1.3 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. This means that a man with an average weight of 80 kilograms will need an average of 80 to 103 grams of protein each day. These proteins It is possible to divide between the meals and also use smoothies and supplements if necessary, which, we emphasize, is important both for those who exercise regularly and for those who do not, as mentioned, to prevent the further decrease in muscle mass.
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