Muscle building, aging, and genetics

I did some research about a month ago on the biology of muscle breakdown and rebuilding. In general terms, I understand the body releases natural toxins to assist in this process. I did a lot of reading into how some toxins are bad for you (cause aging and increase risk for cancer). I remember reading the artilce on the bodybuilder that was clean of roids and finally tried it and said he looked older over time. It’s quite understandable that just about anything that helps aid in protein synthesis will have some toxic nature to it. A lot of the massive body builders I’ve seen tend to be bald (signs of aging or high testosterone). However, health experts all agree that exercise and weight-lifting are ways to stay healthy and live fuller, happier, lives. But if that were true, then wouldn’t roids be not only marketed as a muscle-building supplement but also a drug to stay healthy and live longer? Strangely (quite contrary to what I mentioned above), I understand people with lower metabolisms who maintain a low body weight tend to live the longest yet strangely, those that work out who might very well have the same height and weight of those who don’t exercise live even longer which leads me to believe one of two things: 1. The extra working out increases metabolism and makes you eat more and get more nutrients to offset and fight free radicals, especially those produced by the body ‘especially during exercise’ (are these toxins benign by the way because I haven’t seen much research in this area? Has there been any links to bodybuilding and mitochondria damage?) and help you stay healthy.

2. There is some property/ies to exercise that assist in living longer (aside from the psychology of it/feeling better about yourself less stress, I’d wonder what physiological effects might cause this). Strangely though, I have found some awkward unsimilarities in researching the three body-types (mesomorph, ectomorph, endomorph). Ectos tend to look younger and have high metabolisms, are tall with thin body frames, small muscles (going back to the nutrient deal and tend to live quite long) I also believe it takes them the longest to finish puberty which makes some sense Next would be mesos then endos. Mesos are those that are naturally fit (hourglass like) with medium frames and the largest muscles of the three. They look older and more mature, are average height and are much stronger. Are there any similarities between their biological makeup and how long they genetically live? And of course there are endos which are big-boned and usually high fat storage and are short with underdeveloped muscles which is usually due to inactivity. I can understand how being overweight can contribute to shorter lifespan unless you get proper nutrient intake (they say older people who are slightly overweight tend to live the longest). So basically what I want to know is why are there these two contradictions? Which one holds more true? I also want to know that technically, if working out and weight-lifting have both their positives and negatives, could the negatives be offset by the use of anti-oxidants or some other nutritional supplement so that only the positives come through (especially with roid and supplement usage)? However, would not the use of an anti-oxidant hinder muscle-building properties? Thanks.

I’ve wondered about the same things. (though not quite as much).

Can anyone answer his questions?

you will NOT extend how long you live, you will only extend the quality of your life, and yes EVERY study ever done on under wt/ people ALWAYS show that they live longer than the average. w/that said I would rather enjoy my life by feeling and looking good and haveing the quality of my life be good(normal activities being easier, groceries being easier to carry, gardening being easier,ect…)than live 2 more years and be bed ridden, I know I may feel otherwise when I’m 70 (if I ever see 70) but the point is I don’t know how long I will live so I wan’t to feel as good as possible as long as possible

Exercise increases the free radical load on your metabolism


its been shown, at least in some cases that there is a over compensation to FR loads that tend to increase protection ( like in heat shock proteins, radon exposures etc.)

Antioxidants help build muscle because they help mitigate the damage to the repair mechanisms themselves (I take tons.. have for years.. I lift and look quite young.. ppl are always taken aback when I tell them how old I am)

but this is all just theory.. certainly couldn't hurt.. I know It helps my recovery