Many people in the United States avoid running as their primary form of exercise. In fact, a study by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association shows that only about 50 million Americans participate in running or jogging.
However, many people do not know about the great health benefits of running. Do you want to see why you should start doing running exercises to stay healthy? Keep reading these health benefits to see the reasons to start running today!
Improves Sleep
One of the biggest benefits of adding running to your exercise routines is that it can help improve your sleep. Sleep is vital to improving every part of your health. Poor sleep can even lead to other health problems, like mental health issues, heart disease, and more.
Although good sleep is vital, 11% of adults in the United States report that they do not get sufficient sleep every night.
If you fall into this category or simply want to find ways to sleep better, running is a great option to help. Not only can it help you fall asleep more quickly, but it will also improve the quality of sleep you get.
Strengthens Your Joints
Another huge benefit of running is that it can strengthen your joints, especially in your knees and back. Because running is a high-impact exercise, many people believe that you should not run if you are experiencing joint problems.
However, this belief is not backed up by research. As long as you practice good running habits and have good form, you can improve your knee and back health when you run.
One way that you can ensure your joints are protected when you are running is by investing in a high-quality pair of running shoes. If you are looking for the best running shoes, you may want to consider trying out the Adidas Ultra Boost shoes.
Better Immunity
Running is also great for boosting your natural immunity. By improving your diet and exercise habits, you can improve the antibody response in your body, reduce the risk of respiratory infections, and more.
One of the reasons that exercise and running can improve your immunity is to boost your white blood cells. These are vital for fighting off diseases and can help your immune system function better.
Running also increases your body temperature, which can help keep bacteria from multiplying so you can fight off infections. If you find that you constantly get sick, adding running to your routine may help.
Good for Mental Health
Not only is running well for your physical health, but it can improve your mental health as well. In fact, many people who struggle with a mental health disorder find that running can help ease their symptoms.
Not only can it help those who struggle with their mental health, but running can help boost your mood and reduce your stress. If you are looking for natural ways to increase your happiness, running or any other type of exercise can help.
One of the reasons is that running will release endorphins in your body, which can help reduce any pain you feel and increase your pleasure and help you relax. While you may still require medication or other types of treatment for your mental health disorders, running may be able to help improve your symptoms.
Improves Heart Health
Next, running is a great way to improve the health of your heart. Because your heart needs at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week, running is a great way to reach this goal.
Just like you need to work out any muscle, you need to work out your heart. By regularly running, you can improve the strength of your heart and make your cardiovascular system more resistant.
Runners also typically have lower resting heart rates and use more oxygen. This helps your heart pump your blood more efficiently, which can help prevent heart attacks and other heart diseases.
Running can also help lower your blood pressure and will reduce the stress on your arteries, and will keep your heart in better shape for much longer.
Stimulates Your Brain
Finally, running is a great exercise because it can help improve your cognitive function and stimulate your brain. After running, you will find that you have increased productivity and energy. Not only does it help your brain function, but it can also prevent it from declining in the future.
While there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s or other degenerative diseases, running can stimulate your memory and minimize your cognitive decline. If you make running a regular habit in your life, you will find that your brain is better able to learn and remember things.
It is especially important that you run and work out while you are young, as this will help prevent any degeneration of your brain. By running, you can boost chemicals in your body to keep your brain healthy for years to come.
Learn More About The Health Benefits of Running & Other Exercise
When you run, you can improve almost every aspect of your health. Whether you are looking for ways to sleep better or strengthen your joints, running is a great exercise to help you. Do you want to learn more about the health benefits of running and other running tips?
We can help! Check out the other articles on our website to learn more about running benefits and how small changes to your lifestyle can improve each aspect of your life.