The Importance of Cardio Training

Did you know that only 53% of Americans get enough aerobic exercise each week? According to the CDC, everyone should get at least 150 minutes of cardio weekly. 

What is cardio, and what are some of the best cardio exercises? Cardio exercises require oxygen to meet the demands of your body. Some of the best cardio exercises include walking, jogging, hiking, and biking. 

What are some of the benefits of cardio training? Keep reading to learn why you should add cardio exercises to your daily routine. 

Improve Cardiovascular Health

One of the biggest benefits of aerobic exercise is improved cardiovascular health. Your heart is a muscle, and like all muscles, you strengthen your heart by exercising. 

As your heart gets stronger, it will have an easier time pumping blood throughout your body. You also will have lower blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol, and higher good cholesterol. 

These factors will make it easier for your heart to pump blood and lower your risk of developing heart disease. As your heart gets in better shape, you will have a lower resting heart rate. 

If you are ready to improve your cardiovascular endurance, start by walking and jogging. As you get in better shape, you can do more vigorous activities. 

Lower Blood Pressure

Another benefit of cardio exercise is that it can lower your blood pressure. Some of the biggest causes of high blood pressure include smoking, stress, too much salt, and a lack of exercise. 

High blood pressure is dangerous because it can lead to a heart attack or stroke. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, exercise can help you manage the symptoms and lower your blood pressure over time. 

Improve Sleep

If you struggle to get enough sleep at night, cardio exercise can help. Not getting enough sleep at night can put you in a bad mood, make it difficult to focus, and negatively affect your memory. 

In the long run, a lack of sleep can increase your risk of a heart attack, diabetes, or stroke. Because exercise takes a lot of energy, doing cardio daily can make it easier to fall asleep and help you stay asleep longer. 

Getting extra sleep each night will give you more energy throughout the day, making it easier to establish an exercise routine. 

Regulate Blood Sugar

Another benefit of cardio exercise is that it can help you regulate your blood sugar. When you have low blood sugar, you are likely to feel faint, weak, irritable, and hungry. 

On the other hand, high blood sugar can make you feel tired, give you a dry mouth, and increase how often you need to pee. Having high blood sugar is dangerous because it can impact blood flow to your organs. 

People with high blood sugar are more likely to have a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, and nerve issues. If your blood sugar is too high, a doctor may diagnose you with type 2 diabetes. 

If you have type 2 diabetes, many studies have found that exercising can help your body regulate insulin levels. Between exercise and diet change, you may be able to manage type 2 diabetes with few symptoms.

Manage Weight

If you want to maintain a healthy weight, you should consider adding cardio to your weekly exercise routine. Being overweight can lead to high blood pressure, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, and mental illness. 

When you are at a healthy weight, your body has an easier time functioning. It is easier to circulate blood throughout the body, and there is less stress on your joints. 

Doing cardio workouts increases your heart rate, burns more energy, and boosts your metabolism. All these factors work together to help you burn fat. 

If you want to lose weight, start by walking each day. As you get stronger, a combination of a healthy diet, cardio, and strength training will help you lose weight and build muscle. 

Boost Immune System

Do you find yourself getting sick often? If so, you should consider doing more cardio to boost your immune system. Cardio exercise can create antibodies in your blood, which strengthens your immune system over time. 

Aerobic exercise can also widen your blood vessels, which makes it easier for white blood cells to flow. White blood cells are essential to help your body fight off different diseases and infections. 

Improve Mood

Did you know that cardio exercise can boost your mood? If you don’t get enough exercise daily, you are more likely to deal with anxiety, irritability, a lack of motivation, and depression. 

When you exercise, your body releases endorphins. Endorphins can make you feel happy and reduce stress. According to some studies, walking for 1.25 hours per week can lower your risk of depression by 18%. 

Aerobic exercise also improves your sleep, which can boost your mood throughout the day. While there are many ways exercise can improve your mental health, reach out to experts if you are dealing with a mental health issue. 

Boost Brain Function

Another of the best benefits of cardio exercise is increasing brain function. As people get older, brain tissue shrinks. Some scientists believe regular exercise can slow down the loss of brain tissue. 

This can decrease your risk of cognitive decline, boost your memory, and help you focus when completing tasks. 

Are You Ready to Start Cardio Training?

Cardio training is a good option if you want to improve your cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and boost your mood. Some of the best cardio exercises include biking, running, and swimming. 

Are you ready to start enjoying the benefits of cardio in central Florida? If so, check out our group fitness classes to get started today.