The Most Powerful Muscle

By Audrey Muhammad

One of the most powerful muscles in the body is the heart. Why is the heart a muscle? A muscle is a tissue composed of cells or fibers, the contraction of which produces movement in the body. The heart is a "hollow, pump-like organ composed mainly of "rhythmic smooth muscle" consisting of four chambers that helps get and pump oxygenated blood to the body.

What happens when your "motor" doesn't work well or is sluggish? It is not going to perform well. The number one way to keep your heart in shape is exercise. Walking is one of the easiest exercises that provides a wonderful benefit to your heart. Walking 30 minutes 5-6 days a week is a week is an achievable task. The word "muscle" also refers to power or force. When we exercise our "muscles," we are also strengthening them. The word "heart" is also associated with our "spirit, courage, or enthusiasm." Has your "heart" ever "jumped for joy?"

In order for the heart to work properly, we have to make sure it stays in good condition. In China, the children exercise EVERY morning at school and as a result, have some of the slimmest children. (However, I will talk about how fast food is affecting that trend in another article). What are 2 ways to keep our "heart" in good shape, we must condition it in two ways because the "heart" can affect various parts of our body if it is not in optimum condition. Even when you have a baby, you are encouraged to make sure the baby is placed on their stomach during various periods of the day so they make develop their muscles by trying to push up or lift their head.

Our mind and heart are directly related. If your mind is consumed with worry or you feel stressed out, your heart rate can increase and cause other problems. Take care of your heart by first easing your mind. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad states in How to Eat to Live Book I, “The earth is full of food; but good health cannot enter our bodies until we have the proper food in the body and the proper food for thought. If we do not have proper food for our way of thinking, we still cannot enjoy peace, good health, joy and gladness of heart.”

Furthermore, proper thoughts also affect other parts of our body and our bodies ability to properly digest food. “We can eat the best food, we can take fasts for nine days or for 20 or 30 days if we want to; and we will still suffer if we do not feed the brain with the right food. These two bodies—the brain and digestive tract—have much in common with one another. Whatever hurts one hurts the other. We must treat both well.” (p.57).

We even have to be mindful of our conversation, which can also affect our bodies’ ability to digest food. If we are having unpleasant conversation, it can affect of efficiency of our system. We should always strive to have the highest level of conversation, especially dealing with the revealed word of God. Instead of stuffing ourselves or overeating with food, which is like an “act of violence” upon ourselves, we should try to “feel that void” with a good word.

The bottom line is that our heart is a muscle and it needs exercise. How do I make time? Check out suggestions in Sister Lorraine Muhammad’s book 588 Days: Balancing Act of Faith, Family & Finding Time for Me, which covers her weight lost journey or my book, Get Fit to Live: Be Your Best You. In the book, Fit for Life, it states, “Life is motion and the less we move the less alive we become.” We need “aerobic” activity which means “with oxygen.” Aerobic exercise helps to oxygenate the blood. Walking is one of the best and easiest “aerobic” activities. One of the greatest benefits of regular exercise is it makes the heart a more efficient and stronger muscle. Don’t we all want our hearts to be powerful? How are our children going to increase efficiency of their muscles if we don’t encourage them to exercise. We have to make more of an effort to exercise in this high-tech and “fast food nation.”

May Allah (God) bless us all with peace, love, health, wealth and happiness.

(Audrey Muhammad is a certified fitness instructor and author. Read about the keys to lose weight in her book, Get Fit to Live: Be Your Best You! available at www.getfit2live.org. Please consult a physician before beginning any new workout or dietary plan. Send questions and comments to AudreyMuhammad@hotmail.com or call (510) 815-4591.)