Is there actually a best time of the month to build muscle?

If you’ve ever wondered if your monthly cycle impacts your ability to build muscle, a new study offers some solid answers.

• It’s been hypothesized that the follicular part of the menstrual phase (peak estrogen) is better for muscle protein synthesis versus the luteal phase (peak progesterone).

• Researchers assessed how muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and muscle fiber breakdown occur after resistance exercise in healthy young women ages 18-30 with regular cycles who did not use hormonal contraceptives.

• They observed that resistance training led to MPS in both the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.

The takeaway? We certainly may not feel primed for every type of workout throughout the month, and there are many reasons for that, but it’s nice to know we’ll get the muscle-building benefits of strength training any day we do it.

Read Full Study Here