Why Is Cardio Important | 10 Reasons

Whenever you ask someone about their fitness routine, you’ll definitely hear the word “Cardio”. Cardio workouts are considered to be the most important part of a fitness regime due to their numerous benefits. But, it is not only recommended to the people who want to get in shape but to the people as well who want to stay healthy. So what is this cardio workout? And why is it so important for our health? Let’s take a look.

What is cardio?

Cardio (Cardiovascular) workouts are known to improve muscle endurance in the body by promoting the practice of aerobic exercises. In these workouts, the heart rate increases to pump more oxygen to the muscles to increase muscle growth while burning extra fat and calories and improving blood circulation as well.

Examples of cardio workouts

There are countless types of cardio workouts that one can choose from according to their fitness goals and comfort level. Some exercises under the banner of cardio workouts are also friendly for people with health issues like joint problems or heart diseases. Some of the most followed types of cardio workouts are:

• A normal or brisk walk
• Cycling
• Running
• Jogging
• Swimming
• Boxing
• Rowing
• Elliptical workouts
• Dancing
• HIIT

Why is cardio important?

If you want to stay fit while maintaining your health at its best, then cardio is your best option to follow. It’s not a magical workout that’ll burn your calories overnight, but the constant cardio workout will not only help you lose weight but will help you improve your health and lifestyle. Let’s take a look at the reasons why cardio is so important for us.

1. Improve heart health

As mentioned before, during cardio workouts, the heart gets to beat faster and pump blood more efficiently throughout the body. It helps in strengthening the muscles of the heart due to the enormous rush of blood and continuous aerobic activity. Cardio workouts also help in lowering the cholesterol type bad for the heart, i.e., low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Instead, it keeps the blood pressure maintained and clears the arteries by increasing the amount of cholesterol good for the heart i.e., high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

2. Improve mental health

It does not only affect the fitness of our body but our mind as well. Studies have been made in this regard which show the crucial role of cardio workouts in the betterment of psychological conditions. Also, cardio workouts can significantly improve brain activity by enhancing focus, memory, and thinking capabilities.

3. Helps in weight loss

The most favorite aspect of cardio workouts is their ability to regulate weight loss. Diet alone cannot make you slim, that’s why physicians recommend adding cardio workouts to your daily physical activity routine to burn more calories in a short time and effectively. As these exercises are known to increase the heart rate, which boosts your metabolism and makes it easy to burn fat.

4. Helps in regulating the blood sugar level

Cardio does not only help your heart but also helps in lowering the blood sugar i.e., glucose levels which in turn improve insulin resistance. This insulin resistance is crucial for patients suffering from diabetes.

5. Promotes better sleep

According to studies, people who perform cardio on a daily basis have shown better sleep patterns than people who don’t. Physical activity helps the simulation of quality sleep and helps in maintaining the sleep cycle.

6. Strengthens the immune system

Regular cardio workouts are known to increase the level of certain antibodies in our blood, known as immunoglobulins. These antibodies fight against multiple types of infections and strengthen our immune system. Some studies also show that the continuous flow of antibodies in our bloodstream can possibly reduce the chances of diseases like cancer and lung issues.

7. Helps in boosting mood

Mood swings sometimes can be hard to handle, but experts say if you keep yourself active daily for a specific time, these mood swings can be controlled. Cardio workouts are known for the reduction in the symptoms of depression, which alleviates the mood and makes you feel good about yourself.

8. Helps in avoiding injuries

Cardio workouts are known to enhance the strength of the muscles while improving the body’s balance and agility. This overall improvement in movements reduces the risk of falls and helps prevent injuries.

9. A safe workout for everyone

Cardio is one of its kind workout routine that is safe for everyone even for people with joint problems or health issues. By managing the intensity of the workouts, every age group can enjoy cardio, as they say, cardio is for all.

10. Cost-effective and accessible

The best part about cardio is its accessible nature and can be performed anywhere. It does not necessarily need any gym equipment, that’s why they are highly cost-effective. Walking in a park, swimming in a pond, and climbing on a hill will reap similar sorts of benefits as one can achieve by using gym equipment. However, if you want to intensify your cardio workout by using equipment, you can always join a gym-and that is also not so heavy on the pocket.

Conclusion

Whether it’s your weight loss journey or your health that needs improvement, cardio does it all. Cardio workouts, if performed consistently, can reap the long-term benefits and can promise you a healthy and fit life. That’s why they are considered an integral part of any fitness regime. Their accessible and affordable nature makes them suitable for everyone.