Everyone knows that running is a great way to get into shape, but it also can benefit almost every part of your bod and lift your mood. Whether it’s your favorite part of the day or something you have to push yourself through, the benefits are undeniable. The next time you’re thinking of skipping a run, think of these six reasons to get your butt out the door.
1. Running Improves Your Health
Believe it or not, running is actually a great way to increase your overall level of health. Research shows that running can raise your levels of good cholesterol while also helping you increase lung function and use. In addition, running can also boost your immune system and lower your risk of developing blood clots.
2. It Prevents Disease
For
women, running can actually help to lower your risk of breast cancer.
It can also help reduce the risk of having a stroke. Many doctors today
recommend running for people who are in the early stages of diabetes,
high blood pressure, and osteoporosis, and it is proven to help reduce
the risk of having a heart attack. By helping the arteries retain their
elasticity and strengthening the heart, your chances of suffering a
heart attack can be significantly reduced.
3. You Might Lose Weight
Running
is one of the best forms of exercise for losing or maintaining a
consistent weight. You will find that it is a leading way to burn off
extra calories and that it is the second most effective exercise in
terms of calories burned per minute, following only after cross country
skiing.
4. Running Boosts Your Confidence
Not all of the benefits of running are physical. Running can provide an noticeable boost to your confidence and self-esteem. By setting and achieving goals, you can help give yourself a greater sense of empowerment that will leave you feeling much happier.
5. It Relieves Stress
Stress
can actually cause a number of health and mood problems. It can also
diminish appetite and sleep quality. When you run, you force your body
to exert excess energy and hormones. Running also helps to reduce your
chances of developing tension headaches.
6. Running has the Power to Eliminate Depression
When
you are depressed, the last thing you likely want to do is to get up
and go for a run. Yet you will find that after only a few minutes of
running, your brain will start to secrete hormones that naturally
improve your mood. In fact, there are few things in the world that can
better or more rapidly treat depression than exercise such as running.
Running
is incredibly beneficial to the body, mind and spirit. You will find
that even short runs can leave you feeling more energized, more focused
and better able to enjoy all that life has to offer.