5 Ways Running Benefits Your Health

Running is one of the most straightforward ways to get the important benefits of exercise, it’s easily accessible without the need to sign up to a gym and is a great way to help improve cardiovascular health. Here are 5 key ways in which running can benefit your health.

1. Burns calories

Running helps to burn calories which can aid with weight loss or maintenance of your weight. The burning of calories even continues after you stop your run. Once you have finished running, your body’s metabolism can continue to burn more calories than when at complete rest.

2. Strengthens muscles

Running strengthens your muscles. Even though running is primarily an aerobic activity, you still use a variety of muscles which will increase in their strength, tone and endurance. Running is an effective core workout, as it works and tones the muscles of your torso, the muscles from your pelvis to the shoulder and the abdominal, lower back, pelvis and hip muscles, to keep your spine aligned as you run.

3. Improves mood

Feel-good brain chemicals and hormones such as serotonin and dopamine are produced when you run. This can help to reduce stress, anxiety and depression and make you feel happier. Concentration, memory and sleep also improve which in turn leads for a happier you!

4. Increases cardiovascular health

Muscles get stronger with regular exercise, and it is important to remember the heart is also a muscle, therefore, the same rule applies. But just like other muscles, after intense exercise, you need to give yourself rest period to allow the heart time to recover.

Running can reduce your risk of heart disease by up to 35%. This can also mean a reduction in blood pressure and ‘bad cholesterol’ which also helps keep your heart healthy.

5. Strengthens joints and bones

Running not only strengthens muscles but also strengthens your joints and bones too (including your knees!) Running increases bone mass and can help to prevent age-related bone loss such as osteoarthritis. So, despite hearing many people say ‘running can be bad for your knees’, studies show that running can actually improve knee health.

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