5 incredible advantages of running If you’ve never run a step, you might be unsure whether you should. Yes, running has a wide range of positive effects on the mind and body. Here are a few of the best ones: 1. It can help you live longer Exercise has been shown in numerous studies to have life-extending benefits. For instance, in a study involving 55,000 people, Iowa State University researchers discovered that running three times a week for an average of 17 minutes reduced the risk of a fatal heart attack or stroke by 55%. More than 154,000 runners and walkers have been tracked by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California’s National Runners’ and Walkers’ Study since 1991. Running anywhere from three to seven miles per week has been shown to lower the risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
2. Although running cannot cure cancer, there is ample evidence to suggest that it aids in its prevention. Regular exercise is linked to a lower risk of developing certain cancers, including colon cancer (risk reduced by 40% to 70%), breast cancer (30% to 40%), and lung cancer (30% to 40%), according to a review of 170 studies published in the Journal of Nutrition.
From Runner’s World 3, more It keeps your mind sharp According to research published in the Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, the evidence that regular exercise prevents age-related mental decline is “insurmountable.” According to research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, aerobic exercise improves brain blood flow and improves cognitive function in adults over 50. Those who ran 15.3 miles per week had a 40% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease death than those who did not run, according to a separate study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
4. Sorry, critics! It’s good for your joints! Your knees won’t be ruined by running. In fact, it has the potential to strengthen them and other joints. According to a California-based study by Stanford University, recreational runners showed less joint wear and tear. Additionally, older runners had a higher bone mineral density than sedentary people and swimmers of the same age, according to research published in the journal Osteoporosis International.
5. It reduces stress In a small study, participants’ brain waves were measured before and after a 20-minute run. The levels of cognitive stress were reduced by 58% even during this relatively brief exercise session.
