Any activity that works your large muscle groups and gets your blood pumping is defined as aerobic exercise. It is also referred to as cardiovascular activity. Some of the top aerobic exercises you can engage in include running, brisk walking, cycling, swimming, playing soccer, gardening, or even heavy cleaning. According to experts, it is a good idea to get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise in a week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise. Some of the prominent benefits of incorporating this activity in your workout routine are highlighted below.
Improve cardiovascular health
Most doctors recommend aerobic exercise to people who have, or are at risk of, heart disease. This is because aerobic exercise can strengthen your heart and helps it in pumping the blood more efficiently throughout the body. It is also helpful in reducing blood pressure and helps in keeping your arteries clear, as it boosts good cholesterol levels and reduces bad cholesterol levels.
Reduces blood pressure
If you want to manage symptoms of high blood pressure, adding aerobic exercise to your workout can be immensely helpful. It helps in reducing blood pressure.
Regulates blood sugar
You can lower blood sugar and regulate insulin levels through regular physical activity and also keep your body weight in check simultaneously. Aerobic exercise can be immensely helpful in regulating the insulin levels and sugar levels in your blood.
Reduces chronic pain
If you are suffering from chronic back pain, it is recommended that you engage in aerobic exercise, particularly low-impact activities, such as aqua aerobics, or swimming. These can be immensely helpful in improving your endurance and restoring your muscle function. In addition, it is also useful for reducing weight, which can help in reducing chronic back pain.
Promotes sleep
Anyone who has difficulty sleeping at night can give aerobic exercise a try. Engaging in regular aerobic exercise during the day can improve your sleep quality and also boost your mood. In fact, even your sleep duration will improve. Your daytime vitality and wakefulness will also benefit. But, you should not exercise too close to bedtime because it can make it more difficult to sleep. It is suggested that you exercise at least two hours before sleeping.
Strengthens immune system
Engaging in regular and moderate aerobic exercise helps increase antibodies called immunoglobulins in the blood, which can strengthen your immune system. The cortisol levels in the brain are also reduced through aerobic exercise, which can reduce stress.
Regulates weight
It is a well-known fact that diet and exercise are essential for weight loss. But, the truth is that aerobic exercise alone can help you in shedding a significant amount of weight and also help in keeping it off. This is due to the fact that you are able to burn a large number of calories in aerobic exercise, as opposed to other activities. When you also cut calories in combination with aerobic exercise, you will be able to see a major difference in your weight, depending on how much exercise you engage in.
