8 amazing benefits of running daily

Looking to lose weight & build cardio? Go outside, put on a comfortable pair of shoes and go for a run around the neighbourhood, the park, or even around your house. Running is an amazing workout for anyone & running for 20-30minutes daily can really present some amazing results. Honest!

Running is considered one of the top activities for burning fat. According to a study, 60% of runners start running to lose weight. You don’t need to buy any expensive sports equipment (apart from a comfortable pair of shoes) or go to the Gym.

You never know when you might collide with another runner. You may have just found yourself a running buddy!

Got a lot on your mind? Take a run. It’s a great way to clear your head and sort out your thoughts, while getting an exercise. Long, distance runs can help relieve headaches while short, speed runs are great for relieving anger and hate (assuming you don’t hate running).

I can’t sit around doing nothing. If I’m not doing anything, I feel I’m losing energy, and the longer I keep it up, the harder it is to do something. Next thing you know it’s the end of the day and you feel exhausted from sitting around doing absolutely nothing. To get energy, you must give energy. In a nutshell – do something!

Running gives you a natural high and the irreplaceable sense of accomplishment. You feel a sudden surge of energy make its way through your body. It’s an amazing feeling and you feel like you can do anything you put your mind to. Going for 20-30minute run each day can give you the energy to get you through the rest of your day.

While running, you release something called endorphins – hormones located within the brain and nervous system having a number of physiological functions. These hormones cause the “runner’s high” or a general sense of happiness.

Running helps tone your muscles, particularly leg muscles, and improve your fitness level and physical appearance which can greatly increase your confidence.

Also, as I’m writing this hub I’m staring at a computer, and because my body is not getting any movement (apart from my fingers tapping away at the keyboard) my bones are gradually growing weaker. And don’t think you’re off the hook either, I seriously doubt you’re doing any physical activity reading this hub. However while you’re running, you’re giving your body the demand it needs it stay physically healthy and keep you in the best shape you can possibly be. Remember you only get one body, so look after it!

According to a new study from Stanford University (School of Medicine), published in August 2008, running regularly helps you to look and feel younger. Researchers at Stanford University kept track of 500 elderly runners for more than 2 decades (20years). At the end of the research, the results showed these runners had fewer disabilities, remained fit for longer and were half as likely to die early deaths as non-runners.

Running regularly reduces the risk of stroke, breast cancer, and early stages of osteoporosis (a serious medical condition where bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue, typically as a result from hormonal changes or lack of calcium and vitamin D.), diabetes (disorder of the metabolism causing excessive thirst and therefore the production of large amounts of urine) and hypertension (high blood pressure and/or great psychological stress).

Because of these reasons, running daily has become an option for many doctors who deal with patients who are at risk.

Running regularly reduces the risk of having a heart attack by strengthening the heart and lowering blood pressure (ultimately lowering the chance of hypertension). Running also helps strengthen your immune system by creating additional lymphocytes (i.e. white blood cells). It is also a great medicine when dealing with depression and/or addiction problems for it gives you something to focus on, other than past, sad events or playing endless hours of Bejewelled.

I can’t stress this enough. As convincing as these benefits might seem, you can’t claim them unless you’re willing to commit to run every day. Remember, what you put in, is what you get out.