The body was designed to move in a lot of different ways to be its healthiest. It needs strength training, flexibility training, balance and endurance training. Another name for endurance training is cardio. That’s because it exercises the cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular includes not only the arteries, blood vessels and capillaries, it also includes the heart. One of the simplest cardio exercises is running, so it makes sense that running is good for your heart. It also provides many other benefits for your health.
The heart is a muscle, like any other muscle.
Just like your biceps, your heart needs exercise to be strong. When you run, it gives the heart a good workout, but it does even more than that. It increases the efficiency of the heart by building the strength of its walls. Studies show that people who run on a regular basis have a slow resting pulse rate with high maximum oxygen consumption. They have lower blood pressure and lower bad cholesterol.
Obesity can take a toll on your heart.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths. In fact, it rivals smoking. Running burns tons of calories and the more calories you burn, the more weight you lose, but you have to eat right, too. If you want to lose weight, it takes consuming fewer calories than you burn. You can’t out-exercise a bad diet. You also have to be consistent and that means exercising regularly. Always start off slow and work toward faster times or longer runs to condition your body.
How does running help lower bad cholesterol levels.
What is the bad cholesterol? It’s the LDL—low density lipoproteins. When you run for 30 minutes at least three to five times a week, you decrease the LDLs. If you have a high amount in your blood they build up and cause plaque that blocks arteries. If you already have plaque buildup, it can help reduce the amount already there. It lowers blood pressure, too. Again, consistency will help you get the results you want.
- You can modify your run and make it even more effective by using the HIIT—high intensity interval training—technique. You simply alternate your speed between top intensity for a short time and a recovery pace for the same amount of time or longer.
- If you’re using running to lose weight and get into shape, don’t forget other types of exercises. Strength training builds muscles, while burning fat. Running burns calories. You also need flexibility training to avoid injury.
- Running boosts circulation and reduces the potential for blood clots. Studies show that running on a regular basis can lower the risk of heart disease by up to 55%.
- Stress is a killer and can affect all your body, including your heart. Running helps burn off the hormones of stress that comes from the fight or flight response.
For more information, contact us today at Revolution Training