Page 238 - The Miracle of the Blood and Heart

THE MIRACLE OF THE
BLOOD AND HEART

brain when you concentrate on reading—because the cells
mostly in need of nutrients and oxygen are in those areas.
Thrift is not valid for those times only. Under normal con-
ditions, the body makes no special effort to nourish the mus-
cles, which comprise 30-40% of the body's weight. The
amount of blood going to the muscles during periods of rest is
astonishingly low. When you begin to work your muscles,
however, your metabolic activity increases 50 times, and the
blood flow to your muscles increases 20 to 25 times. 120 This is
really an astonishing change, but during exercise, muscles
need this extreme flow of blood. If they were to require such a
large quantity under normal conditions, then it would be
impossible for the heart to keep up. The intelligent controllers
of the body prefer to divert existing blood in more essential
and important areas, such as the brain.

When we engage in sports, our muscles need 20 to 25 times more blood
than normal. If our muscles needed that much blood even under nor-
mal conditions, the heart would be unable to match that extreme
tempo. Yet our Lord, Who has created all things with a measure,
has created our hearts and muscles to be compatible with one
Harun another.
Yahya

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