Health benefits of cardio exercise

Benefits of Cardio Exercise

The main purpose of aerobic or cardio exercise is enhancing respiratory and "circulatory system" efficiency, and as a result, making our heart and lungs healthier, stronger and enable them to work more efficiently. 

When you are told to increase cardio, it simply means to perform exercises that will increase your heart rate to your "target heart rate zone" and improve the circulatory system.

1.IMPROVED HEART HEALTH

The first one is an improved condition of your heart. Your heart is a muscle just like any other and in order for it to become strong it must be worked. If you fail to work it, it will weaken over time and this can cause a variety of negative health effects.

By getting the heart pumping at a faster rate on a regular basis you will keep it in shape and healthy. Too many people are getting winded just performing simple exercises such as walking up the stairs and the primary reason for this is because they are neglecting to work their heart muscle.

2.Reducing the Risk of Disease

By participating in cardiovascular exercise and gaining cardiovascular endurance, you will reduce your risk of several chronic and life-threatening diseases, such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, such as colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and multiple myeloma cancers. The American College of Sports Medicine states that higher levels of cardiovascular fitness are associated with a 50 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease risk. If you participate in regular cardiovascular exercise, you will also increase your insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, reducing your chances for developing type 2 diabetes.

3.INCREASED METABOLISM

Another reason to perform cardio is for its effects on the metabolism. Along with speeding up your heart rate, cardiovascular exercise also increases the rate of various other processes in the body, also known as your metabolism.

Generally speaking, the more intense the cardio session, the more noticeable increase you will see with regards to your metabolic rate. Intense interval sprints (also known as HIIT) increase the metabolism; the highest with a process called EPOC (Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption). An increased metabolism means an easier time maintaining your weight (or losing weight as the case may be).

4.Improving Your State of Mind

Building your cardiovascular endurance through exercise does more than just improve the healthy of your body physically. Being active is an effective way to combat anxiety, stress and even depression. Exercise triggers the release of endorphins, which can quickly elevate your mood. Finding time to exercise several times per week can not only make you feel better, but can also lead to an increase in your self of self-esteem.

5.IMPROVED HORMONAL PROFILE

Performing cardiovascular exercise also changes the hormonal profile in your body considerably. It releases 'feel good' hormones that will help ease symptoms of depression and fatigue as well as releasing hormones that decrease the appetite.

Individuals who partake in regular cardio exercise often have a much more positive outlook on life simply because they are getting the stress-relief benefits from these hormones.