You just need 30-40 minutes, enough warm-ups and running shoes. That's all it takes to gain a huge amount of benefits for your physical and mental health. So, what are the benefits?
Burning calories
When you're running, the body needs calories as the fuel to move muscles and joints. That's why running is the most effective way to burn calories.
Even by running at a slow pace of eight kilometers per hour, you can already burn 606 calories. The faster you run, the more calories you burn. Running regularly will also increase your body's metabolism so that the calorie burning process will also improve.
Keeping heart healthy
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology says that running for just five minutes a day can prolong your life. Why is that? Because running is one type of aerobic exercise that if done frequently can be beneficial for the health of your heart.
Aerobic exercise can train your heart muscle, reduce the level of fat in your blood along with bad cholesterol. Added with the efforts to maintain a balanced diet, running regularly will keep you away from the risk of heart disease and other degenerative diseases.
Maintaining brain performance
You can’t avoid the decrease in cognitive abilities as you get older. However, you can slow it down by diligently doing aerobic sports like running. The routine of running can stimulate the formation of new nerves in your brain. As a result, your memory capacity will be maintained even as you get older.
Increasing concentration and improving mood
It turns out that running for 30 minutes every day can help increase your concentration ability. This routine stimulates the formation of new nerve cells in the brain that in turn can increase the brain’s memory capacity and its ability to absorb information.
Moreover, running helps improve mood. When running, the brain releases endorphins which can fight stress and anxiety. In addition, running also creates a sense of accomplishment. Just try running one lap around the running track; you will feel more confident and some sort of satisfaction.
Increasing stress resistance
Nowadays, running is often used as some kind of therapy to improve mental resistance to stress and anxiety. A study states that the brain releases endorphins, serotonin and norepinephrine when running, and those are the body's natural chemical compounds to fight stress and anxiety.
The mind will be better managed and the complexity of the mind will get unraveled. You can be more objective in seeing things. Running also improves rest patterns that are often disturbed due to stress and anxiety. That way, the body becomes more energized.
After discovering the various benefits of running, now it's time to run. Gather your spirits, prepare your shoes and make the commitment.
