The benefits of running

 The benefits of running

We all know running is good for staying healthy. Even though it is well known it is still underutilised, even though it is cheap and doesn’t require a gym membership!

You may start to wonder if you should try running. The answer is yes- running has many benefits not only for your body but also your mind. Here are some of the main benefits:

It can help you live longer and keeps your mind sharp

Iowa State University found running 3 times a week for an average of 17 minutes reduces the risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke by 55%. 

Research has shown that regular exercise helps reduce age-related mental decline. People over 50 who take up aerobic exercise benefit from better cognitive function and improved blood flow to the brain. 

It soothes stress and you can enjoy nature

Small amounts of exercise such as 20 minutes can lead to a 58% reduction in levels of cognitive stress. People who exercise outdoors reported an increased amount of energy, decreased feelings of depression. They were also more likely to continue working out. 

It puts you in control

You can choose how you want to approach running. You could run solo or with others; run as little or as much as you want. 

Below are some of the ways running on a regular basis can significantly improve your heart health:

Running lowers your blood pressure and cholesterol levels 

Running 30 minutes a few times per week helps reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL) the ‘bad’ type of cholesterol and increases the high density lipoprotein (HDL) the ‘good’ type of cholesterol. High blood pressure also becomes normalised through consistent physical activity. 

Running helps you maintain a healthy weight

It is a well known fact that exercise helps to lose or maintain weight. Those who are overweight ot obese are at a higher risk of heart disease. If you don’t know where to start, set a goal, this will help keep your running schedule on track. 

Running strengthens your heart muscle 

Think of it from a different perspective- the more bicep exercises you do, the bigger and stronger your biceps will become. The same thing will happen when you exercise your heart, which is the most important muscle in your body. Overtime, running strengthens the walls of the heart, which increases its overall efficiency.

Running minimises your heart's workload

As runners have stronger hearts, they typically have a lower resting pulse rate and intake a higher amount of oxygen. As a result, the organ can handle pumping a large amount of blood per beat, which helps the heart perform its job with ease. 

Running reduces your risk of heart disease

Those who start running on a regular basis decrease their risk of heart disease by 33-55%. Running helps prevent blood clots in the arteries and blood vessels. It also supports healthy blood flow, blood pressure and cholesterol.