You’ve probably heard it said that exercise is medicine. Well, it’s not just a saying; it’s the truth. There’s a raft of scientific evidence that proves that regular exercise (150 minutes per week, which is about 30 minutes five times per week)-and running in particular-has health benefits that extend well beyond any pill a doctor could prescribe. Studies have shown that running can help prevent obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, some cancers, and a host of other unpleasant conditions. What’s more, scientists have shown that running also vastly improves the quality of your emotional and mental life, and even helps you live longer. Here’s how:
1. Running makes you happier.
If you’ve been working out regularly, you’ve already discovered it: No matter how good or bad you feel at any given moment, exercise will make you feel better. And it goes beyond just the “runner’s high”-that rush of feel-good hormones known as endocannabinoids.
In a 2006 study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, researchers found that even a single bout of exercise-30 minutes of walking on a treadmill-could instantly lift the mood of someone suffering from a major depressive order. In a May 2013 study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise in which rats and mice got antidepressant-like effects from running on a wheel, researchers concluded that physical activity was an effective alternative to treating depression.
And even on those days when you have to force yourself out the door, exercise still protects you against anxiety and depression, studies have shown.
Moderate exercise may help people cope with anxiety and stress even after they’re done working out, according to a 2012 study published in Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise. A 2012 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health proved that just 30 minutes of running during the week for three weeks boosted sleep quality, mood, and concentration during the day.
Ever heard someone call running their “drug”? Well, apparently, it actually is pretty similar. A 2007 study in Physiological Behavior showed that running causes the same kind of neurochemical adaptations in brain reward pathways that also are shared by addictive drugs.
6 Ways Running Helps More than Your Figure
Protea Medical Center understands health as a whole picture. There are many different aspects that determine whether or not a person is healthy and we can assist in many ways. Whether it be through hormone therapy or nutrition or cosmetic procedures and more but one thing that we always recommend is more exercise. That’s why we started our Protea Running Club. Exercise is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle and we would love to do it with you. Call 480-557-9095 for more info and check out this article on the six ways running improves your life.
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