6 Health Benefits of Running and How You Can Get Started


One of the best ways to improve your overall health is by running regularly. The health benefits of running are numerous. To achieve the numerous health benefits of running, you do not need to be a professional runner or a world-class sprinter. Even jogging at a slow and steady pace will suffice. Below are the health benefits of running and how you can get started.

Health Benefits of Running

  1. Weight Loss

Running is one of the natural ways that can help you shed off the extra weight. In fact, running is a more efficient way of losing weight and keeping it off than most other activities. When running, one moves the entire body, and this helps in the burning of calories.

Of course, there is no specific data on the number of calories one can burn by running. However, in general, one can burn up to 100 calories after running for 1 mile. The exact number of calories one can burn after a single session depends on the intensity of the workout and the weight of the person.

  1. Improves Mental Health

Apart from improving physical fitness, running helps improve mental health. Depression is a mental disorder that affects a large portion of the population. These mental disorders should be addressed using various medical approaches. Running is a good remedy for people suffering from depression and stress.

Running increases the flow of blood in the brain and the release of dopamine and endorphins. These feel-good chemicals are the ones that boost mood and help fight stress. According to the American Psychological Association, regularly running in times of stress can help one handle life’s challenges.

  1. Sleep Better

Having a good sleep is essential to your health. Sleeping enables the body to recharge and perform repair works. Sleep deficiency can lead to serious health problems such as depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and obesity.

Running improves sleep quality and helps you fall asleep quickly. You may be wondering how running can help you sleep better. Running stimulates the release of serotonin. This hormone helps with sleeping. With better sleep, it becomes easy to stick to an exercise routine and exercise more.

  1. Improves Heart Health

You might have noticed that after a run, your heart rate increases. The reason for this increase in heart rate is so that blood flow can increase, and the muscles can get oxygenated blood much faster to provide you with the energy needed for running.

This increase in heart pumping strengthens your heart muscles, lowers blood pressure, and reduces the risk of heart diseases. Both steady, continuous, and high-intensity running can help make your heart healthy.

  1. Strong Joints

There is a myth that running is not suitable for your joints. Do not let this myth prevent you from running. The cause for many knee and joint injuries is poor form. Joint and knee injuries also occur when one stresses the body more than it can handle.

Most professional runners have increased bone density compared to people who are not active. Running makes cartilage cells strong and healthy. It also strengthens the ligaments reducing the chances of sprains and strains.

Longer Life Expectancy

Running helps you live longer. According to researchers, even running once a week or a month can extend your life by up to three years. From the numerous health benefits of running, it is not surprising that people who run regularly live longer.

How You Can Get Started

If you plan to hit the road to achieve the above health benefits, you will need to have a good pair of running shoes for men or women like the  catechu air force 1 from Nike. There are also running shoes for kids. Running shoes help improve comfort. You will need a watch to time yourself and a bottle of water to stay hydrated. You’ll also need to have a plan for your runs.

Before starting out, you should warm up for a few minutes to prepare your body for the run. To avoid being injured in the process, it is important that you start by running slowly and for short distances. You can then increase your speed and distance with each outing. This helps build your endurance.

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