Heat Shock Proteins have been written about lately as possibly being another major factor in the building of muscle mass in an effective workout routine.

First off, heat shock proteins, aka HSPs, are proteins within the body that increase internally within a muscle when it’s being subjected to elevated temperatures and a high form of stress.

(No, this isn’t something you can buy in a bucket or a nutrition bar at a supplement store.)

HSPs have been shown in the Journal of Orthopedic Science and Journal of Applied Physiology to increase muscle mass and recuperation.

The reason for this is that HSPs cause the activation of the muscle cells that are responsible for the growth and recovery of muscle tissue.

Also, they increase protein synthesis (which in simple terms means that the body better utilizes the amino acids within the blood and storage to build and gain muscle weight).

Now, I don’t want to turn this into some boring, science term-filled article, but I think you get the point.

These HSPs may be a major piece to the muscle building puzzle.

Exactly what types of “high forms of stress” will stimulate HSPs?

There are several, like internal temperature elevation, decreased glucose availability, increased intracellular calcium levels, and reduced blood flow to the muscle (how’s that for a bunch “scientific-sounding" terms for you........).

The main one I want to briefly address in this article is the last one…reduced blood flow to the muscle being trained.

In many of my recent articles, which you can read at http://www.FromSkinnyToMuscular.com/articles.html, I’ve written on why training a muscle to increase the amount of lactic acid within it, the so-called “burning sensation”, is so important if building muscle mass naturally is your main goal.

Well, lactic acid forms as a result of reduced blood flow to the muscle.

Actually, it’s been shown that the higher the amount of lactic acid in a muscle the higher the amount of HSPs being formed.

Also, one of the other factors that stimulates HSPs listed above, decreased glucose availability, also is achieved by decreased blood flow to the training muscle…..which, again, can be achieved by going “for the burn” (lactic acid build-up).

So, once again, the lifting of heavier and heavier weight is not the main factor in building muscle mass and gaining weight.

Sure, it’s the way to go if pure strength gains is what you’re after, but if physically larger muscles and a more developed physique is what you’re seeking, the are other more important factors that you have to seek……like possibly increasing HSP’s in a trained muscle via going for that lactic acid burn.   


Sincerely,

Jonathan Perez
Cleveland Firefighter
Certified ACE / IAFF / IAFC Firefighter Peer Fitness Trainer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jonathan Perez has written many articles exposing the many weight training and diet myths being spread about in the bodybuilding industry and on the internet.

His eBook, "From Skinny To Muscular!", has helped many naturally skinny individuals gain muscle size and weight by detailing the training strategies and eating techniques that actually work at building muscle, instead of strength.

Many of Jonathan's other articles are located at www.FromSkinnyToMuscular.com/articles.html.

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