Legendary bodybuilder Lee Labrada is one of the brightest minds in the fitness industry and has vast stores of bodybuilding knowledge he has acquired over decades of training. Lifestyle related diseases and heart problems among the younger populace are becoming common in modern society. Labrada recently shared a simple but effective exercise that can keep all these troubles at bay.
Lee Labrada is widely regarded as one of the most disciplined professional bodybuilders that the sport has seen. He won the 1985 Mr. Universe title and competed against the best bodybuilders of his generation with remarkable consistency in performance. The 63-year-old did not win the coveted Mr. Olympia crown in his career but finished in the top four at seven consecutive Mr. Olympia appearances. Labrada gave legendary bodybuilders like Lee Haney and Dorian Yates a run for their money.
After his retirement, Lee Labrada has become one of the prominent voices in the sport of bodybuilding. His son Hunter Labrada is also a top Men’s Open division competitor who finished in the top four at the 2021 Olympia.
Lee Labrada shares a key exercise to improve cardiac health
According to a study from Harvard Chan School of Public Health, men who can perform at least 40 push-ups in a single attempt are least likely to develop heart disease in the next ten years of their life. Hunter Labrada expanded on the argument and said:
“More specifically, they found that middle aged men who can do 40 push-ups in one attempt have a 96 percent lower chance of developing potentially deadly health conditions and ailments as compared to people who can do only ten push-ups.”
Labrada gave the context of this study and explained that the study was conducted over a ten-year period on 1104 active firefighters aged 40 years at the beginning of the study. The average Body Mass Index of the subjects was 28.1. At the end of the ten-year period, 37 subjects had developed heart disease and 36 of them could not do 40 push-ups.
This study gives a clear and simple message about fitness
Push-ups are undoubtedly one of the best exercises for upper body strength and muscle gain. But the study or its conclusion does not present push-ups as some magical exercise that can keep heart disease and other health conditions at bay. It also does not mean that doing 40 push-ups is the fitness goal either. But instead, as Lee Labrada explained:
“Being able to do 40 push-ups is indirectly reflective of overall fitness status because it demonstrates strength, discipline, strength endurance and major upper body muscle groups and a strong core to be able to hold that plank position. It also means that the person is likely not obese. He’s doing some kind of regular workout and it’s no stranger to physical exertion, which maybe another indirect major of cardiovascular fitness.”
To summarize the best practice to keep deadly diseases at bay, Labrada continued:
“Stay fit, stay lean as possible, work out and exert yourself physically often… The point is clear. Being strong and fit helps you to avoid heart disease.”
Labrada rightly noted that push-up is a simple exercise that most people can do anywhere without any elaborate setup. Affordability and limited space are not significant obstacles to attempting them. So start your fitness journey today!
Watch the full video of Lee Labrada explaining the same below, courtesy of Lean Body Nation YouTube channel:
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