Doing cardio exercises will help you get out of your comfort zone. You will become stronger and more fit. This article will share why cardio is important for your health.
“All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.” – Michael John Bobak
One of our life goals should be about fitness. Cardio is a great way to achieve fitness. There are a lot of benefits that come with doing cardio exercises. Cardio has been linked to better mental health, weight loss, and even longer life.
15 Benefits Of Cardio For Your Health
Doing cardio makes you more alert. If you are looking for a way to improve your cognitive function, doing cardio is the answer. Cardiovascular exercise has been linked to better mental health overall. According to a study published in the journal “Psychology of Sport and Exercise,” regular aerobic exercise can help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress levels.
It also makes you happier. In addition to reducing stress levels, cardio has also been linked to increased happiness. A study published in the “British Journal of Sports Medicine” found that people who engage in regular aerobic exercise report higher levels of happiness and satisfaction with their lives.
There are many outcomes of doing cardio. Now let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons why cardio is so important:
1. Cardio Helps You Lose Weight
One of the biggest benefits of cardio is that it helps you lose weight. This is because cardio burns calories, and the more calories you burn, the more weight you will lose. Cardio is an extensive hardcore calorie burner that torches calories long after you have left the gym.
Taking longer to recover between sets and making sure your rest is kept to a minimum will ensure you burn more calories during the workout and long after.
“I don’t count my sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting because they’re the only ones that count.” – Muhammad Ali
2. Cardio Improves Your Heart Health
If you have had problems with your heart in the past, cardio is an excellent way to improve your heart health. Cardio brings more oxygen into your body and increases the strength and power of your heart muscle. It is also an excellent way to lower your blood pressure.
3. Cardio Prevents Diseases
Because cardio exercises help to lower cholesterol and improve heart and lung health, they can prevent diseases such as diabetes and cancer. It can reduce the risk of major illnesses, such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and cancer, and lower the risk of early death by up to 30%.
4. Cardio Burns More Calories Than Resistance Training
One of the biggest myths about cardio is that it doesn’t burn as many calories as resistance training. This is simply not true. Cardio can burn more calories than resistance training, especially if you are doing high-intensity interval training.
Related Video – Cardio Vs. Strength Training
5. Cardio Improves Mental Health
Physically active people are less likely to suffer from mental health problems than those who aren’t. Cardio has also been shown to improve mood, reduce stress and provide a sense of well-being.
6. Cardio Increases Your Energy Levels
Doing cardio exercises regularly can help you feel more energetic because it increases your metabolism, which in turn burns more calories, resulting in weight loss. A higher metabolism also means that you will have more energy throughout the day without feeling tired or sluggish.
7. Cardio Helps You Live Longer
As mentioned earlier, cardio is linked to better mental health, weight loss and can even increase your life expectancy by up to seven years! If you want to live longer and in good physical and mental health, cardio workouts are a must.
“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” – Sean Patrick Flanery
8. Cardio Is Easy To Incorporate Into Your Routine
Cardio exercises are easily incorporated into your daily routine. You can do them without having to go to the gym, either outdoors or indoors on a treadmill, exercise bike, or elliptical machine. Aerobic exercise increases your levels of endorphins, which make you feel good. So if you need a mood boost, cardio is the way to go.
“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” – Lou Holtz
9. Cardio Prevents And Reverses Type 2 Diabetes
One of the best things about cardio is that it prevents and reverses type 2 diabetes. Regular cardiovascular exercise helps to lower your blood sugar levels by making your muscles more sensitive to insulin, helping you maintain normal blood glucose levels.
10. Cardio Improves Bone Density
Bone density decreases as we get older, which can lead to osteoporosis. Doing regular cardio exercises can help to improve your bone density and reduce your risk of developing this debilitating disease.
11. Cardio Reduces Stress Levels
If you are feeling stressed out, doing some cardio exercises is a great way to reduce your stress levels. Cardio releases endorphins, which are the feel-good hormones, into your system and makes you feel happier and more relaxed.
12. Cardio Boosts Your Confidence Levels
Cardio exercises make you look and feel better about yourself, which in turn boosts your confidence levels. When you are physically active and look good, you feel good about yourself on the inside as well.
13. Cardio Burns More Fat
One of the best things about cardio is that it burns more fat than resistance training. This means that you will lose weight and body fat more quickly by doing cardio exercises than by lifting weights.
14. Cardio Prevents Back Pain
Back pain is a common problem, which can be caused by several factors, including obesity, stress, and poor posture. Doing regular cardio exercises can help to prevent back pain by strengthening your back muscles and improving your posture.
15. Cardio Is Good For Your Overall Health
The bottom line is that cardio is good for your overall health and should be a part of your weekly routine. It helps to improve your heart health, mental health, energy levels, bone density, stress levels, confidence levels, and more. So what are you waiting for? Start doing some cardio exercises today!
The Importance Of Cardio – Conclusion
Now you know why cardio is important. Doing cardio exercises regularly can help improve your overall health in several ways. Some of the benefits include better heart health, improved mental health, increased energy levels, reduced stress levels, decreased risk of developing diseases, improved bone density, and more.
If you want to live a long, healthy life, then you should make cardio a part of your weekly routine. It’s easy to do and has many benefits for your health!
References
- https://www.verywellfit.com/cardio-for-weight-loss-1229851
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.CIR.0000048890.59383.8D
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK284937/#:~:text=The%20research%20summary%20shows%20that,who%20followed%20an%20exercise%20program.