Although weight loss often motivates people to head to the gym, the health benefits of aerobic exercise go far beyond just helping to control your weight. A program of regular aerobic exercise can help you avoid serious health problems, such as heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. It can also lower blood pressure,…
Wearing the appropriate athletic shoe for specific sports activities can improve comfort and performance and, most importantly, prevent injuries. Sports can place tremendous pressure on the feet, ankles, and legs. Running and jumping, for example, generate an impact force through the legs that is three to five times a person’s body weight. Today’s athletic shoes…
Overview Stretching your body to become more supple and flexible offers many physical benefits. Such training allows for easier and deeper movements while building strength and stability. Stretching your muscles and joints also leads to greater range of motion, improved balance, and increased flexibility. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of developing a…
The average person walks between 2,500 and 5,000 steps each day. Although this may seem like a lot, you may want to add more steps to your daily routine with an exercise walking program. Consider the benefits to your physical and mental health: A brisk walk increases your intake of oxygen, strengthens your heart to…
The powerful combination of cardiovascular exercise and strength training can help a person build muscle strength and improve their heart, lung, and circulatory health. Exercises that target multiple muscle groups are particularly effective. These include various exercises that require little to no equipment and can suit a range of fitness levels. Here, we look at…
Older people with hypertension had somewhat better control of their cardiometabolic risks when they maintained an active lifestyle, according to a longitudinal study from Korea. Uncontrolled hypertension was less likely in folks who stayed physically active from 2002 to 2013 compared with peers who were generally inactive the whole time (adjusted HR 0.87, 95% CI…
According to scientific literature, exercising in the morning is more beneficial than exercising at night. The better outcome is associated with improved management of metabolic pathways and energy homeostasis. Why is the timing of exercise important? Food intake, energy metabolism, and systemic energy expenditure collectively play an important role in maintaining energy homeostasis and preventing…
Whether you love it, hate it, or tolerate it, cardiovascular exercise is an essential aspect of any exercise program and overall health. For example, when done consistently over time, running, has been shown to improve your quality of sleep, benefit brain health, stabilize blood sugar, and strengthen your knees. Being aware of how much cardio…
To walk is to be human. We’re the only species that gets around by standing up and putting one foot in front of the other. But walking is more than just transportation — it also happens to be really good for us. Countless scientific studies have found that this simple act of moving our feet…
You know the feeling: You glance down at your Fitbit before bed and the number is far less than the 10,000 steps you were shooting for. But instead of grappling with guilt that you didn’t hit the “magic number,” if you got at least halfway there, you can rest easy. A new study found that…
