Indisputable reasons to start running in the morning
In this article you will learn:
How running affects our nervous system;
The benefits of running at different levels;
How running makes us younger;
Why is it time to start running.
Many people think that running is useful primarily because it has slender legs, cardio loads, sports selfies and awards from marathons. But running affects a lot more in our lives. This is the health of the body as a whole, and the work of the brain, and the psychological attitude to oneself, and these facts are confirmed by science.
To summarize the benefits of running, you get an impressive list:
Good self esteem
Reduced risk of strokes
Improved mood and brain function
Reducing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Risks
Improved heart function
Strengthened muscles
Reduced chance of breast and colon cancer
Improved digestion
Increased fertility
Improved joint mobility
Slow muscle aging
Now consider the main benefits of running in more detail.
Running leads to less worries and nerves.
Any aerobic exercise, cardio, including jogging, makes it possible to control stress and overcome anxiety. People who regularly run have a better and better sleep, therefore jogging is recommended in cases when sleep is disturbed. Running, like meditation, helps to be distracted from everyday thoughts and everyday problems. Why?
To maintain a stable sugar level, we need the hormone cortisol. It stands out not only during stress, but also during prolonged exertion, improving our running performance. Therefore, if you had a hard day, it is best to go for a run, sending cortisol for the benefit of the body.
On the other hand, those genes that are associated with stress are turned off during running. In addition, the level of GABA (gamma-amino-butyric acid) is growing - it is a neurotransmitter of pacification, roughly speaking. Because jogging reassures us on a mental level.
Both the brain, the nervous system, and the body as a whole are calmed down. After all, nerves are not only in the brain, but also on the periphery. Peripheral, or ANS (autonomic nervous system), is responsible for the work of our organs.
If stress occurs, then the sympathetic ANS begins to work, and the parasympathetic is almost always active, because it is responsible for the “eat and love” state. And if we are in a state of constant stress, then an imbalance can occur in the operation of these systems. This can be determined by the fact that either we have constant weakness and apathy, or vice versa - an excited state.
We still have such a vagus nerve in our body. It is also affected by chronic stress. This nerve connects the central nervous system with internal organs. Those. thanks to him, physiological processes in the body depend on our emotions. Therefore, with a strong excitation of this nerve, we can experience pain in the heart muscle or abdomen.
If a person is regularly engaged in jogging or other aerobic exercise, then he is in a state of balance of the nervous system, and the vagus nerve is brought in tone.
Running makes us happier
When we travel kilometers, the brain receives a dose of endorphins and endocanabinoids. In fact, this is a kind of drug that we get from the inside. Endorphin gives us a feeling of happiness and works as an anesthetic.
Another hormone is the “drug” - dopamine. It is produced when we enjoy or reward. We get it in active movement and with new achievements in training .. We can say that it is for him, for his new portion, that we each go for a run regularly.
Next is serotonin. It is produced through running and just doing outdoors. Serotonin also makes us happy and excited. In the case when there is a shortage in the body, this can lead to depression, apathy, and mood decline. Of course, running is not a panacea for depression, but if you regularly run, then the chances of getting it are much less.
Everything else, at every training session and even more so when participating in competitions, we go beyond the usual, we create challenges for ourselves by testing the strengths and abilities of our body. Therefore, it is not surprising that those who run, who play sports have a higher self-esteem than those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Sports and running in particular have a positive effect on sex life. Firstly, due to physical fitness and good self-esteem, and also due to the fact that the hormonal background works better for those who run. Well, of course, that athletes, runners, have more testosterone than those who only sit at the computer all day.
Running makes us smarter
If you are worried about the condition of your nerve cells, then go for a run or do another aerobic workout. The rhythmic movement of the legs contributes to the release of neurotrophin. This is a substance that helps preserve neurons, prolonging and preserving their life. Therefore, we can safely say that running keeps the brain longer young, improving its blood circulation.
This approach helps and prevent Parkinson's disease. Because during its development, neurons die, and they secrete dopamine, and as a result, problems with movements arise. When we exercise regularly, nerve cells survive better, and this can prevent the onset of the disease or slow down progress.
What else is affected by running is neuroplasticity. New connections are formed between neurons, which helps to learn new movements and has a beneficial effect on memory. It is noticed that for people who are actively and regularly involved in sports, it is better to plan, make decisions, they have better memory and more effectively solve different problems. The more active we are, the more active our brain is. And if you do not deal with them, then with age they degrade, especially noticeably with Alzheimer's.
Running keeps us from getting old
The more active the person, the slower he gets older. There is no way to prevent the aging process. But it is in our power to control its speed. It seems like a miracle, but you can slow down the aging of the molecular level by running.
You can extend youth by running long distances. There are studies in which it is proved that, on average, active jogging prolongs life by 3 years, while the risk of death is reduced by 30%. As laughter adds minutes of life, so running is hours. According to some statements, an hour of running adds 7 hours of life.
You may not believe in these numbers, but the fact that cells age more slowly in runners is a fact. Moreover, regardless of age. However, do not overdo it, because overtraining negates the rejuvenation process. Just like sunbathing. The sun leads to the destruction of collagen in the skin, and this leads to wrinkles.
Running makes us healthier
If you do enough of that running may prevent Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, according to medical research, running also prevents hypertension, diabetes, prostatitis and diseases of the respiratory system. There is even information about the prevention of cancer.
What exactly can say - running trains the heart, and this certainly reduces the chances of a heart attack. Regular load improves cardiovascular adaptation, which reduces the risk of all cardiovascular diseases.
If you run at least 10-20 miles in a week, you can significantly reduce the level of certain lipoproteins. They carry cholesterol and fatty acids in the blood. It is clear that the more, the worse for the body. Their excessive quantity leads to increased chance of atherosclerosis.
Maybe it sounds strange, but running allows you to save and vision. Why? Because the retina is formed from neurons, and they need neurotrophin who actively produced during exercise.
Also due to long-term studies have shown that running has a positive effect on the spine, the joints, bones and muscles.
The main thing is to practice intelligently. You need to choose the shoes properly and to monitor running technique. Then it will be helpful to health, in particular for joints. It is especially important for people who suffer from osteoarthritis. Who knows – it is a disease in which joints become inflamed and are destroyed.
What is the use of running? Moderate and proper joint stress helps stop inflammation. At the same time, weight is reduced, the state of the nervous system and heart rhythm is normalized, a balanced diet is present - this helps prevent osteoarthritis or facilitate its passage.
The fact that the runners are not obese and have normal weight will also be obvious. Running alone does not lead to this result, but often those who regularly run change their lifestyle as a whole. Such people eat right, adhere to the regimen. Well, in the appendage, they are happier, retain youth longer, their nervous system works better, the brain works more actively and efficiently.
There are still doubts about the benefits of running?
If you are still thinking about how to start running, then you should do it as soon as possible. Because after such obvious health benefits, it is not worth putting off further. And it doesn’t matter when you run.