Jogging is an exercise that almost anyone can do. You do not need a gym membership, and the only ‘equipment’ you need is a pair of running shoes. Plus, it is great exercise for your entire body. Here are five benefits to jogging:
Stronger Bones
Jogging regularly places strain on bones and muscles. Over some time, your bones become stronger and can handle increased stress. Stronger bones are less likely to break or experience an injury. Jogging is especially beneficial for older adults who experience progressive loss of bone density. Stronger bones help to decrease the risk of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and other skeletal diseases.
Weight Loss
Coupled with a low-calorie diet, jogging can help shed unwanted pounds and help you lose weight. Depending on your weight and height, jogging 5 miles a day can help you lose up to one pound a week and even more if you are on the heavier side. It is recommended that you take 10,000 steps daily for an active lifestyle.
Improved Cardiovascular Health
As an aerobic exercise, jogging ensures that your heart beats faster and pumps blood faster through the body. Putting this kind of stress on your heart helps to strengthen it and improve its efficiency in pumping blood through the body. Jogging also helps to prevent hardening of the arteries by aiding in weight loss and lowering cholesterol levels.
Prevention of Degenerative Mental Disease
Jogging ensures that your body takes in more oxygen and utilizes it better. Larger amounts of oxygen have been shown to prompt the creation of neurons in the brain and prevent the onset of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s.
Better Quality of Sleep
Insomnia and other sleep disorders are sometimes the results of not making your body work hard enough. Jogging and other strenuous exercises ensure that your body works hard enough to ensure exhaustion. Ensuring that you use up energy is a great way to get your body to fall asleep at the right time. Great sleep is essential to productivity so you can be sure that you will be able to tackle the day’s challenges (including jogging) if you are well-rested.
Setting up a regular jogging schedule will provide benefits for your entire body. If you have not exercised in a while, reach out to your doctor before starting a new program. They can give you the information you need to safely begin a fitness program to prevent overstraining yourself or getting an injury.