Running-you may love it, you may hate it. Like me, you may find it difficult to motivate yourself to get up and just go for a run but afterwards you feel amazing! It doesn’t matter if you are a first time runner or running your 56th marathon, I applaud you. Running is such a great way to improve our physical and our mental health. I’ve listen just a few of these benefits to help motivate us all to move more!
Physical health:
Running helps to strengthen bones and joints as it is a weight bearing exercise. It also helps to slow down bone loss associated with ageing.
Running can help build a stronger heart muscle as it causes our heart to beat harder and faster to pump more oxygen around the body. This aids in improving overall cardiovascular and lung function. Always a plus!
For people who are aiming to lose weight running is also a super way to boost energy (calorie) expenditure along with a controlled weight loss diet.
In terms of mental health running is an excellent way to relieve stress and anxiety and has been linked to reduced depression. When we exercise endorphins are released which help lift our mood. This is why we call them ‘feel-good hormones’ or ‘happy hormones’. Physical activity has long been associated with improved mental health and running (especially outdoors) is an excellent way to look after our mental health.
Last but not least.. it’s free! Yup, bring your trainers anywhere you go and you can take off for a stress-busting, feel-good run!
What are you waiting for?
Michelle Butler is a Registered Dietitian and one of the founding members of Good4U where she leads the Innovation team. Good4U’s mission is to empower people of all ages to live healthier lives and Michelle hopes that by creating healthy foods without compromising on taste or price this mission will be easily accomplished.