6 Surprising Perks Of Strength Training

Sure, cardio is awesome for you—but if you’re not building muscle, too, you’re missing out on these impressive benefits.

- Jacqueline Andriakos

1/ You sleep better

Strength training, especially for a newbie, takes a tremendous amount of exertion—and all that effort primes your body for shut-eye, says neurologist Chris Winter, MD, author of The Sleep Solution. “When you exercise your muscles and physically tax yourself, you create more of a compound called adenosine, which is a by-product of energy consumption,” he explains. “Then as your body breaks down adenosine, it has the effect of making you sleepy.” (Fun fact: Caffeine temporarily blocks adenosine.)

2/ Your bones get stronger