It never ceases to amaze me how many new benefits related to strength training are discovered. Once considered to be the workout for the guy who no longer wanted to get sand kicked in his face at the beach, weight lifting has grown to become a doctor recommended way to maintain health. Serving as a testament to this is the recent discovery that strength training improves insulin sensitivity.

In the September 2006 Journal of Endocrinology Metabolism, French researchers published data suggesting that resistance training may fight against inflammation in internal tissues and organs. Specifically, they found that it improves insulin sensitivity and blood sugar metabolism without any effect on C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation. What's more, not only does this help to prevent diabetes, it appears as though weight training's effect ability to fight inflammation can also aid in the fight against cancer and coronary artery disease.

In a related study, researchers from the University of Southern California studied weight training's effect on insulin Resistance and body fat in Latino boys aged 14-17. They found that 16 weeks of strength training improved insulin resistance, reduced body fat and increased lean body mass by 91 percent.