​Cardio and it's benefits

We can all agree that being physically active is good for our health and wellbeing. Strength training is a very popular form of exercise and helps increase muscle mass and general strength amongst other benefits. It is important to include cardio alongside strength training to get the maximum benefit from your training regime.
 
From running and jogging to swimming and cycling, you can choose from several different cardio options! Regardless of the type of cardio you do, the benefits that getting your heart rate up and your sweat on are profound. 
 
What is cardio? 
Cardio is short for cardiovascular exercise or activity. This form of exercise works to improve your endurance by increasing your heart rate and breath rate. It also boosts blood circulation. The goal here is to engage in a moderately intense physical activity that raises your heart rate into the zone where you will burn the most fat and calories. A few examples of cardio based activities are cycling, walking, running or sprinting. 
 
What are the benefits?
There are a number of specific benefits but let's look at three of the main ones.
 
1. Helps with weight loss 
Cardio burns more calories than lifting weights and other workouts. Also, cardio helps boost your metabolism. While these exercises increase your heart rate, they also aid other processes in your body, such as your metabolism.
 
2. Improves mental health/well being
When you engage in cardiovascular exercise, your body releases endorphins, the body’s feel-good chemical. Your body releases these chemicals during and after  exercise, reducing muscle tension and stress! Furthermore, one study on people with depression found that after ten days of walking on a treadmill for 30-minute intervals, they reported a significant reduction in their depressive symptoms.
 
3. Improves cardiovascular health
Your heart is a muscle, and like all muscles, it requires exercise. If you don’t work it, it will weaken over time. Getting your heart pumping at faster rates on a regular basis keeps it healthy, reducing the risk of heart disease. Cardio helps lower your blood pressure by reducing the levels of bad cholesterol and raising levels of good cholesterol. This will eventually lower your resting heart rate because your heart pumps blood more efficiently! Win win!
 
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