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Running – boost your mental and physical health

Running – boost your mental and physical health

There are few things in life as exhilarating as a good run. The wind in your hair, the pounding of your feet on the ground, and the feeling of your heart pumping – it’s addictively exhilarating. And it’s also incredibly good for you.

The Benefits of Running

Though it may seem like a simple activity, running provides a whole host of benefits for your physical and mental health.

Physical Benefits

Let’s start with the physical benefits of running. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that it helps you to lose weight and keep it off. But running does so much more than that. It also strengthens your bones and muscles, helps to improve your cardiovascular health, and can even help to prevent or reduce the effects of some chronic diseases.

Weight Loss

If you’re looking to lose weight, running is one of the most effective exercises out there. It’s a calorie-burning powerhouse, and can help you to torch calories quickly and efficiently. On average, running burns around 100 calories per mile. So, if you run 10 miles per week, you’ll burn 1,000 calories – which can help you to lose weight.

Strong Bones and Muscles

Running is also great for your bones and muscles. It’s a weight-bearing exercise, which means that it helps to strengthen your bones. This is especially important as you age, as bones can become weaker and more brittle with age. Running can also help to build and strengthen muscles, which can improve your overall strength and endurance.

Cardiovascular Health

In addition to helping you to lose weight and build strong bones and muscles, running is also great for your heart health. It’s a cardiovascular exercise, which means that it helps to keep your heart and lungs healthy. Regular aerobic exercise like running has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Chronic Disease Prevention

Finally, running can also help to prevent or reduce the effects of some chronic diseases. For example, regular aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. Additionally, if you already have a chronic illness like cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes, regular aerobic exercise can help to improve your symptoms and increase your overall quality of life.

Mental Benefits

In addition to the physical benefits of running, there are also mental benefits. Exercise of any kind has been shown to improve mental health, but running may have some unique benefits. For example, running has been shown to reduce stress levels, improve sleep quality, and boost mood. Additionally, regular aerobic exercise has been shown to improve cognitive function and protect against age-related cognitive decline.

Reduced Stress Levels

If you’re looking for a way to reduce stress levels, running may be a good option. Exercise in general has been shown to reduce stress levels, but running may be particularly effective. One study found that running helped stressed-out rats to feel calmer by reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Additionally, another study found that runners had lower levels of self-reported stress than non-runners.

Improved Sleep Quality

In addition to reducing stress levels, running can also help to improve sleep quality. This is likely because exercise in general can help to regulate the hormones that control sleep (like melatonin and serotonin). Additionally, one study found that people who started a regular running routine slept better and felt more alert during the day than those who didn’t exercise.

Boosted Mood

If you’re looking for a mood boost, running may be a good option. Regular aerobic exercise has been shown to improve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, one study found that runners had lower levels of self-reported depression than non-runners. So, if you’re feeling down, a quick run may be just what you need.

Cognitive Function

Finally, running can also help to improve cognitive function. This is likely because exercise increases blood flow to the brain. Additionally, one study found that people who began a regular running routine had better executive function (which includes cognitive functions like planning and decision-making) than those who didn’t exercise. So, if you’re looking for a way to boost your brainpower, running may be a good option.