09/19/2026
Muscle is metabolic medicine. 💪
Skeletal muscle is no longer viewed as simply the tissue that moves us. Current research recognizes it as a highly active metabolic and endocrine organ. When muscle contracts, it releases signaling molecules called myokines and other exerkines that communicate with the liver, pancreas, adipose tissue, bone, brain and immune system. Emerging 2025–2026 research is mapping this muscle-to-organ communication in remarkable detail. 
Muscle also plays a central role in glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity, while resistance training can improve glycemic control, body composition and strength. In a 2025 meta-analysis of older adults with type 2 diabetes, resistance exercise significantly improved HbA1c and fasting glucose, along with several lipid measures. 
For women approaching and moving through menopause, preserving muscle isn’t simply about aesthetics. It’s an investment in metabolic health, strength, function and healthy aging.
The conversation in nutrition is shifting from simply “How much do you weigh?” to a much better question:
“How much metabolically active tissue are you protecting?”
That’s a conversation worth having.
— Simply Nutrition
A World Without Diets or Disease
