Muscle-to-fat ratio is an effective indicator of heart health. Although low fat levels reduce the risk of cardiovascular damage, high muscle mass is not an effective indicator of improved heart health. Instead of muscle volume, it is more important to monitor their density, writes a publication in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The claim is made by researchers from the University of California, who set themselves the task of identifying which specific muscle characteristics are the most accurate indicators of heart health. Muscle density is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, they found after analyzing data from healthy men with an average age of 60. Men with the strongest and densest muscles have a 25% lower risk of coronary heart disease than the rest. In addition to muscle density in general, it is also important which muscles are the strongest. The abdominal muscles are the most important. Men with large abdominal muscles have a higher risk of heart disease than men with small abdominal muscles. On the other hand, higher abdominal muscle density reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Muscle mass refers to the total size and volume of muscles. Big muscles give an attractive appearance, but density in muscles is related to their health and strength. It refers to how tightly the muscle fibers are placed next to each other. The higher density gives a defined shape without necessarily increasing the size of the muscle. In the case of muscle mass, larger sizes are not necessarily an indicator of health. Large muscle without high density contains water and fat. The study results were only seen in men – no similar link was found for abdominal muscles and heart health risk in women. But overall, the musculature in a woman’s body matters for heart health, the researchers emphasize. In another study, high muscle density in the arms and legs was associated with a larger heart diameter and a reduced risk of thickening of the heart walls, a factor that reduces the risk of heart failure. Improving physical health includes, in addition to gaining lean muscles and reducing fat, which can harm the heart. High fat levels predispose fatty deposits to build up in the arteries, increasing the risk of blocked blood vessels and stroke. Fat raises cholesterol and blood pressure, risk factors for cardiovascular disease. References: University of California � San Diego. Researchers report on muscle as a heart-health predictor. Larsen, B. Associations of Abdominal Muscle Density and Area and Incident Cardiovascular Disease, Coronary Heart Disease, and Stroke: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.123.032014