What are the benefits of running for the body?

People have different opinions about running. Some people think it is tiring, while others think it is fun. But there is no doubt that it is the most commonly used form of exercise, because we can run anytime and anywhere, on the sports field, on the playground, in the fields, and in the woods. It is also the best way to lose weight and keep fit. While sweating, we can also keep fit and lose fat. So what are the benefits of running?

1. Running is a full-body exercise

Running is a whole-body exercise that can make the muscles of the whole body contract and relax rhythmically, increase muscle fibers and protein content. Well-developed muscles are one of the hallmarks of bodybuilding.

2. Running can delay aging

Bones are the support of the body and the levers for human movement. For adolescents in the growth and development period, insisting on running can improve blood circulation, increase the supply of nutrients to bone cells, and enhance the growth ability of bone cells, thereby promoting normal bone development. In the elderly, metabolism weakens, muscles gradually atrophy, bones undergo degenerative changes, and bone and joint diseases become more and more common. Persistent running can enhance metabolism, delay degenerative changes in bones, prevent the occurrence of senile bone and joint diseases, and thus delay aging.

3. Running can protect your heart

Running exercises can maintain good blood circulation in the coronary arteries. Long-term running exercises will not prevent the coronary arteries from narrowing due to age, ensuring sufficient blood supply to the myocardium, thereby preventing various heart diseases and maintaining good heart function.

The heart is the central hub of blood supply throughout the body and the driving force of life. If you keep running for a long time, your heart muscle will be strong and powerful, and the amount of protein and myoglobin will increase. Under X-ray fluoroscopy, it can be clearly seen that an athlete's heart is larger than that of an average person, has a fuller shape, and beats more powerfully. The average person's heart blood capacity is 765-785 ml, while that of a person who insists on exercising can reach 1015-1027 ml. The heartbeat can be slowed down by 10-20 beats per minute than that of a normal person, thus reducing the burden on the heart. On the other hand, running can enhance the heart's tolerance. As we all know, when the average person's heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute, they will feel dizzy, anxious, and breathless; while people who run for a long time can tolerate it up to 150 beats per minute.

4. Running can develop respiratory muscles and increase lung capacity

Human life activities cannot be separated from oxygen for a moment. We inhale fresh oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Important indicators of respiratory health are vital capacity and maximum ventilation. Running can develop the respiratory muscles and increase lung capacity by 1-2 liters. The maximum oxygen uptake of trained athletes can be increased by 33-60% compared to ordinary people.

5. Running can enhance gastrointestinal motility

Running can enhance gastrointestinal motility, increase the secretion of digestive juices, improve digestion and absorption capabilities, thereby increasing appetite, replenishing nutrition, and strengthening the body.

6. Running can reduce gynecological diseases and regulate menstruation

For women, running helps regulate menstruation and reduce gynecological diseases. American obstetrician and gynecologist Shane Goeder investigated the menstrual cycles of 394 female athletes in the 1979 New York Marathon and found that 26% of women with menstrual disorders resumed normal cycles and 17% of women with amenorrhea resumed menstruation. This is because running increases metabolism, promotes digestion and absorption, regulates nervous system function, and improves endocrine function.

7. Running can hone one’s will and perseverance

Running can temper one's will and perseverance, enhance resilience and patience, improve sensitivity, and promote the ability to adapt to the environment. People who exercise regularly for a long time have three characteristics when completing quantitative work: first, they act quickly; second, they have great potential and can exert their maximum functional potential to complete tasks; third, they recover quickly, eliminate fatigue quickly and thoroughly, and can quickly return to a calm level.

8. Running can relax yourself and relieve stress

Jogging can divert your attention. As you bask in the scenery along the road, your worries will surely disappear. Long-distance running is suitable for people who are dealing with a lot of headaches and annoying worries. If you feel unusually depressed, why not go for a brisk run, and you will feel better afterwards.

Running exercise is a sport that tests endurance and is also a gradual process. It has so many benefits and is so good, but we must first learn to persevere and learn to enjoy the process of running. Only in this way can we experience its more and better advantages. It is like a journey of life. While running, it teaches us many truths and allows us to learn many beautiful qualities.