ActiveRunningWhat does running do to your body?We give you 5 reasons why running is the ultimate medicine (and discuss the potential drawbacks)When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveRunningWhat does running do to your body?We give you 5 reasons why running is the ultimate medicine (and discuss the potential drawbacks)When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
We give you 5 reasons why running is the ultimate medicine (and discuss the potential drawbacks)
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
You’d be an instant billionaire if you could bottle the positive effects of running on your body and sell it. There are so many fantastic physical and mental side effects to running, the wonder drug, but be careful; it’s easy to get addicted to the runner’s high!
At the moment, there is no pill-based version, so to experience the benefits of running on your body, you’ll have to lace uprunning shoes, don yourrunning watch, plug in yourrunning headphonesand head out for a quick jog or run.
But before you do that, read this list of benefits that will have you leaving work early, skipping thatNetflixbinge and reaching for your running kit.
1. Reduces risk of death
A biggie, huh? Unless, of course, you opt for a quick jog along the M6, running even for just a few minutes, even at slow speeds, has been scientifically proven to reduce your risk of meeting the Grim Reaper any earlier than necessary.
A studyin the Journal of the American College of Cardiology looked at over 55,000 adults over 15 years to conclude that runners had a 30% lower risk of death from all causes and a 45% lower risk of dying from heart disease or stroke. If that’s not a big incentive to start running immediately, we don’t know what is.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2. Hones a hot bod
For best results –according to the UK’s NHS– combine running with a healthy diet, run three times a week with a rest day after each run, and if you’re a complete beginner to exercise start off with their Couch to 5k app for advice and motivation.
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It’s also worth including a 5-minute strength workout after each run (like squats, lunges and planks) to increase your running economy and performance according toresearchin the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.
3. Boosts sexual performance
(Image credit: Pexels / Karolina Grabowska)
(Image credit: Pexels / Karolina Grabowska)
4. Improves your snooze
Sleep is also something we could do with bottling, especially parents!
The National Sleep Foundation’s recommended 7-9 hours of shut-eye is when your body repairs your muscles, your mind and everything in between, so isn’t it fantastic that regular running not only speeds up your journey into dreamland but also improves the quality of sleep once you drop off?
Researchers from the University of Loughboroughfoundthat running and other physical activities for over 150 mins per week (for example 3 x 30 mins runs) help to manage insomnia and improve sleep quality.
Was there one more thing?
Forget the coffee – if you’re worried you’re not getting that magic 8 hours of sleep is affecting your brain power, running might be your saviour. New research from the American College of Sports Medicinehas foundthat exercise can optimise the brain for better, more efficient memory processing.
(Image credit: Getty)
(Image credit: Getty)
5. Running reduces anxiety
Researchers in the journal Physiotherapy Theory and Practicereportedparticipants’ feelings of contentment, peace, happiness, resilience and an escape or freedom from everyday worries.
The downsides
Yes, running is clearly great for our bodies, but there are a few downsides that we mustn’t gloss over. The first is the risk of injury; have you heard of a runner who has never been injured with a muscle strain or overuse problem?
That’s one of the problems with running - you can get addicted and do too much too soon. To reduce the likelihood of injury, you must listen to your body, only increase intensity and distance gradually (no more than 10% per week), do regular strength work (see above) and cross-training like cycling, swimming, brisk walking and anything else that gets your heart pumping.
Finally, sometimes running can, er, how shall we say it, encourage your digestive system to spring into action? If you find yourself prone to tummy troubles mid-run, experiment with when and what you eat beforehand, plan routes around loo stops (or bushes!) and make sure you’re always well hydrated.
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