The American doctor Gabrielle Lyon he has been talking and writing about longevity long before this term ended up on everyone’s lips, becoming synonymous with a viral trend. Author of new manual Forever StrongDr Lyon has a very popular YouTube channel, where he has been sharing for years tips and strategies to transform your body for the betterincreasing resistance and vitality, regardless of age. Supporter of muscle-centric medicineDr Lyon invites people not to passively experience the passing of the years and to take control of your health by changing your lifestyle, starting with diet (rich in proteins) and training (resistance). His goal? Counteracting obesity, heart disease and diabetes – the diseases of our century – optimizing muscle health. Here’s what he told us from his New York clinic.
Dr Gabrielle Lyon’s new book.
Why are muscles so important to our health and how are they linked to longevity?
«I’ll make a premise: anyone who cares about health and longevity must know that the key elements in this regard are metabolism and glucose regulation. The main district for glucose disposal is the musculoskeletal system, i.e. the set of bones and muscles that allows the body to move, supporting posture and protecting vital organs. The more healthy skeletal muscle you have, the more room you have for carbohydrates. For this reason, skeletal muscle is closely connected to metabolism and, consequently, to the health of the entire organism: the sooner we start worrying about it, the better. Not to mention that the musculoskeletal system is connected to the levels of energy, strength and resistance of each of us.”
Where to start to ensure a healthy musculoskeletal system?
«It starts with small daily activities, for example going to do errands on foot and walking the dog a little longer every day. Then add running, which is important for balance and mobility. Remember that a healthy skeletal muscle system houses more mitochondria than anywhere else in the body. And for those who don’t know, mitochondria are real energy centers of cells, capable of producing large quantities of ATP, the “get up and go” molecule.”
From a nutrition point of view, what are the most common mistakes we make?
«We tend to frequently consume foods with a high caloric intake, in the form of processed and hyper-palatable foods (i.e. filled with additives, salt and sugar in quantity). Furthermore we don’t eat enough high-quality proteinfor example Greek yogurt, white meat, red meat and fish.”
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