Top 5 Health Benefits of Running
Do you to be motivated to start running or maybe convince someone else to start? Then you have ended up in the right place, as in this article we have listed the top 5 health benefits of running.
1. Staying in Shape
Most people take on running as a means to lose weight. If you want to get as much as possible out of your workout you should use a running to lose weight program. Running burns calories, the healthier you eat the faster you will lose the weight. Even after you are at your normal weight, you can continue your running routine to maintain a nice figure. Running also helps tone various muscles in your body, thus giving you an excellent physique.
2. Prevent Heart Disease
Today, having a healthy heart is more difficult to accomplish than ever before. Lack of exercise and bad eating habits only lead to health issues such as heart disease. Most people know that exercising reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. But exactly how does running help prevent these issues? Getting a daily cardio-workout such as running makes the arteries in the heart more elastic. This means that the heart will not have to work as hard pumping blood throughout the body. This is good news for people suffering from hypertension. The heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels may be reduced and kept at normal ranges with regular running.
3. Maintain Healthy Muscles and Bones
Poor bone and muscle health can be a consequence of inactivity. Failure to provide your bones and muscles with the needed exercise to stay fit will cause them to become weak. Running enables the body to increase bone density and strengthen muscles. This form of exercise enables the body to form new bone tissue. For this reason, running is especially beneficial to maintaining physical health as we age. Regular running can ultimately help prevent bone-related disease such as osteoporosis.
4. Fight Insomnia
Another issue most people are faced with today is not getting sufficient sleep. Getting adequate rest is extremely important for our health, yet only a few people truly get the needed sleep. Insomnia affects the body in so many different aspects. People with the condition often experience depression, body aches, and susceptibility to infections. Running allows your body to sleep better and longer periods.
5. Improve Mental Health
How does running help with mental health? Running produces endorphins in your body, which cause a feeling of well-being. People that run on a regular basis report that they feel more optimistic. This is sometimes called a “runners high” because the effect can sometimes be instantly. Self-esteem and happiness is also improved with regular running. This is mostly due to the fact that runners maintain physical health and are content with their appearance.
Tips for Running More Efficiently
• Stretch – It is crucial to stretch before beginning a running routine.
Stretching allows the body to get rid of lactic acid. This is the substance
that is responsible for causing pain in your body after working out.
• Run Quietly – Taking lighter steps will automatically increase your speed and
efficiency. You’ll be running faster without even noticing it!
• Breathe Correctly – Keep a steady breathing rhythm throughout the workout.
Breathing should be done with the diaphragm and not the chest. While there exists exercises to breath better, it will be the best for most people to just let the body do it automatically.
• Relax – Tension only decreases exercise efficiency; make sure to let your arms,
shoulders, and mouth relax.
• Run with Proper Posture – Do not slouch or bend the knees too much. Stand up
tall and try to extend your legs more. This will help build strength in
your body’s core.
The health benefits of running truly go beyond just giving you good looks. It helps prevent heart disease, osteoporosis, insomnia, and many other health issues. Other conditions that can be prevented with regular running include; diabetes, sexual impotence, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. Although running is not 100% guaranteed to prevent you from developing certain health issues, there is nothing to lose. After all, you’ll be working to maintain your body figure and will also gain good health with no extra effort given.
Filed under: iloverunning
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I just wanted to thank you for a very good list of benefits. I had a hard time convincing my friends to start running and the only argument I really had was that it helped you to stay in shape. Thanks to you I now have a couple of new arguments also.