Why Running Is Important To Keep You Healthy

The advantages of cardiovascular exercise for our bodies are known to most people – yet we struggle to make it a part of our daily life. Running, in particular, has always had always been a ‘love it’ or ‘hate it’ activity that some people can’t do without, but others can’t do at all. To put things in perspective, running not only has its benefits to our bodies, but also our brains, mental health, and life span. Here’s how:

Running helps maintain weight

Running is one of the fastest ways to burn off excess calories. By going for regular runs one can maintain a healthy weight. With fitness trackers and gadgets, it’s now easily possible to track your run, the calories you’ve burned, the distance you’re covered, and the speed. A great technique t amp up your calorie burn is to make HIIT (high-intensity interval training) part your daily runs.

Running improves mental health

Several studies have proven that movement is extremely beneficial in maintaining good moods and keeping common mental health issues such as depression and anxiety at bay. Running, in particular, is known to release good endorphins that can instantly enhance one’s mood, even for someone suffering from a major depressive disorder. Have a look at this research study that details its benefits.

Running improves sleep quality and focus

Regular cardiovascular exercise in the form of running has been found to slow down or prevent mental decline as one age. Additionally, surveys have been conducted that concluded that people who made running a part of their day consistently for a period of time, slept better, and also had improved brain performance and focus through the rest of the day.

Running keeps your heart healthy

Heart diseases are a major concern for the Indian population. Too many people suffer from heart-related diseases such as high cholesterol, blood pressure etc, which can lead to even bigger heart-related diseases. Often times, treatments can be so expensive that families are seeking financial aid through crowdfunding India websites like Impact Guru (for the uninitiated, crowd funding in India is a fundraising method that adopts a donations based system to raise funds for several causes including aid for medical treatment). Regular cardiovascular exercises are one of the best ways to prevent heart diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis – and what better way to get in a cardio workout than by getting out for a quick sprint?

Running is shown to increase life span

Running has been found to increase one’s life span (as opposed to a sedentary life) for the simple reason that it has several health benefits, which help prevent life-threatening diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Studies have shown that regular exercise can increase an individual’s lifespan by an average of 3 years.

Running keeps stress at bay

If you’ve ever gone running you’d know that it can be quite challenging for some who are doing it for the first time. But over time, you get better and better, your endurance increases, and your body becomes more resilient to the physical exertion. In the same way, running prepares one’s body to handle stress better.

Hopefully, knowing these benefits will encourage you to put on your running shoes and go for that sprint!