Running: The Best Natural Cardio

Running is the best natural cardio as it has many health benefits including disease prevention, increasing circulation and balancing emotions. It is simple and effective since there is minimal equipment necessary and it burns lots of calories. While it is simple to begin, the act of running itself is challenging hence why so many calories are burned during this activity. The best part of this form of cardio is that you never out grow it. You can increase the difficulty by increasing distance and/or speed.

There is plenty of scientific evidence to back up these health effects. The British Journal of Cancer did a study proving that more active people are less likely to develop cancer. In the study, They calculated that individuals that are most active are 24 percent less likely to develop colon cancer than individuals that are least or inactive. Research done by the Medical College of Wisconsin and the VA Medical Center shows that used at a harder level, treadmills burn an average of 705-865 calories per hour which is greater than the rower, stationary bike, cross-country ski machine, and the stair-stepper.

Not only does running deter negative health effects, but it also improves health overall. Running is the best natural cardio because it extends your life span. The Stanford University of Medicine studied a group of runners and a group of healthy non-runners over the span of 21 years (1984-2005). As they aged, the disability levels of the runners were lower than in the non-runners, and by the end of the study, 85% of the runners were still alive, while only 66% of the non-runners were.

Though running is the best natural cardio, it is best to be careful to reduce the risk of injury.

Tips For A Comfortable Running Experience

• Don’t run in extreme weather conditions (too hot, too cold)
• Try to run on stable ground (avoid pot holes, too many bumps, uneven pavement, etc.)
• Don’t wear shoes that are too comfortable
• Don’t run heels first
• Don’t run as fast as you can (pace yourself)
• Don’t take long strides (wastes energy)