RUNNING AND ITS BENEFITS


There are numerous benefits of running other than just improving your fitness. Photo: iStock
If you are a runner, you know that running has changed your life. It’s not just an activity or exercise, it’s a way of life. While the benefits are numerous, that doesn’t mean running has changed everything. We are still human after all.

1. Overall mental health.

Runners are happy people. We’ve got that runner high going for us. Just don’t make us unhappy by canceling a race that we’ve trained months and months for. That’s one way to turn a runner’s smile upside down

2. Strengthens your lungs.

Runners have increased lung capacity from logging mile after mile. Those strong lungs come in handy if you ever find yourself on the other side of the race as a spectator. A runner’s WOOHOO! is loud and proud.

3. Helps prevent high blood pressure.

Your arteries expand and contract while running, helping to keep your arteries fit which in turn keeps your blood pressure in a normal range. That is until you find out that your favorite running shoe has been discontinued. Nothing is harder to replace than a beloved running shoe!

4. Strengthens immune system.

Regular running builds up your tolerance to germs which results in fewer minor illnesses. That is unless you are training for a marathon. Then you will be sick all the time.

5. Weight control.

Running burns mega-calories. However, it also makes you mega-hungry, especially if you are training for long distances. Unfortunately, running doesn’t give you a pass to eat all the food, all the time.

6. Physically strong legs.

Runner’s legs are a powerhouse. They move you from point A to B. They carry you up and down hills. They know how to put it into high gear at the track. They will also have a hard time fitting into skinny jeans when you are in the thick of marathon training.

7. Relieves stress.

Running boosts the brain’s serotonin levels which make you calmer and more relaxed. Who said you can’t run away from your problems.

8. Increased bone density.

Running stresses your bones. Essential minerals are sent to the bones when under stress, which makes them stronger. However, running does not make you unbreakable, and jumping, say, a 10-foot high fence is still a bad idea.

9. Increased joint strength and stability.

Running increases the strength of your ligaments and tendons. You’ll find your joints will be able to withstand more mileage and more uneven terrain. But that doesn’t mean you will never sprain your ankle again while trail running. It just may mean four weeks on crutches versus eight weeks if you didn’t run.

10. Increased confidence.

Once you start running, your confidence begins to grow. You’ll feel more in control of your life and your body. You will even begin to think you look good in spandex tights.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

7th Week Pregnancy - Symptoms, Baby Development, Tips And Body Changes

Image
Entered your 7 th  week of pregnancy? Congratulations, you are moving past the first half of your 1st trimester. This might be the best time to go for an ultrasound scan and announce to the world about the good news. But some couples prefer to declare the grand event to friends and family at the earliest, whereas others wait till the end of the first trimester. It’s completely your choice! Even if you don’t, more often the pregnancy symptoms like frequent urination and morning sickness will let the cat out of the bag. If you are eager to have a look at some external signs of pregnancy showing on your tummy, get ready to be disappointed. There is nothing much happening on that front as yet. Though your uterus has doubled up in its size by week 7, you cannot see any signs of growing uterus or baby from outside. All you can do is stand in front of the mirror and puff your tummy a bit to see how it will look in another few months time. 7th Week Pregnancy Ultrasound Scans:
Read more

BENEFITS OF NEEM OIL

Image
1. Protect Your Skin and Fight Aging _Neem oil is chock full of carotenoids and antioxidants that help protect your skin against the ravages of free radicals, which cause signs of aging such as wrinkles and age spots.   2. Heal & Moisturize _For any type of skin, at any time neem extract provides excellent moisturizing and healing benefits. It is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids that help improve skin elasticity and provide and retain moisture.    3. Treat Acne With Neem Oil. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents in neem help reduce the redness, swelling and pain associated with acne outbreaks. The fatty acids moisturize and nourish the skin, while the antibacterial properties fight the bacteria that cause acne. 4.  Treat And Prevent Scars _While it can be used with good effect on existing stretch marks, you should be aware that you should not use neem oil if you are trying to conceive or if you are pregnant or nursing a baby. 5. Relieve Ec
Read more

PLAYING CHESS AND ITS EFFECT ON BRAIN

Image
It can raise your IQ Chess has always had an image problem, being seen as a game for brainiacs and people with already high IQs. So there has been a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation: do smart people gravitate towards chess, or does playing chess make them smart? At least one study has shown that moving those knights and rooks around can in fact raise a person’s intelligence quotient. A study of 4,000 Venezuelan students produced significant rises in the IQ scores of both boys and girls after 4 months of chess instruction. It helps prevent Alzheimer’s Because the brain works  like a muscle , it needs exercise like any bicep or quad to be healthy and ward off injury. A recent study featured in  The New England Journal of Medicine  found that people over 75 who engage in brain-stretching activities like chess are less likely to develop dementia than their non-board-game-playing peers. Just like an un-exercised muscle loses strength, Dr. Robert Freidland, the study’s author,
Read more