How Running Supports Our Health And Wellbeing
There is a lot of evidence which shows that running supports our overall health and wellness.
Running is a natural activity that stimulates various physiological processes within the body which do not necessarily get activated when we are inactive. Running is also one of the most popular intensive physical activities worldwide. Trail running has become increasingly popular in recent years.
Physical inactivity is thought to be one of the most common behavioural causes of death globally. While inactivity and obesity may increase risks of cardiovascular disease exercises such as running may support our overall wellbeing thorough reducing the risks of these diseases.
Activities such as running may be able to improve the production of new blood vessels and this could support more optimal brain health. Studies show that regular strenuous exercise could be effective in the prevention of chronic diseases. These are just some of the reasons to consider taking up an intensive activity such as running.
The various ways in which a regular amount of running could support our health will be considered here to show why you could take up running to promote your overall wellness.
Does Running Support Our Overall Wellness
Regular physical activity is linked with possible benefits to our attention span, cognitive flexibility and also memory demands. Physical activity is also linked to improvements in academic ability in school children. These may be some the reasons why running has become such as popular activity across the globe.
Running is an activity which stimulates our circulatory system in addition to promoting various biological processes within the body that do not necessarily get activated under inactive circumstances. Research shows that physical inactivity is one of the most common behavioural causes of death globally.
While running is a stimulating activity and may promote improvements in our wellness a proper recovery with the right nutrition is also important to support musculoskeletal health. This is due to the physical wear and tear of regular running on the body. Magnesium is one electrolytic nutrient which has been identified to be lower in professional runners. This is just one of various nutrients which the muscles of our body require to exercise to optimum or maximum ability.
Running And Telomere Length
Running may initiate oxidative stress and inflammation in the short term but research shows that very regular or lengthy running sessions could actually preserve telomere length.
Telomere length is linked to cellular or tissue system survival and longevity. Our telomeres are protective loops on the ends of our DNA which prevent early DNA degradation within the cells of our tissues. This telomere preserving effect may occur through an initiation of genetic responses to lengthy exercise.
Again healthy recovery from running through consuming antioxidants and other nutrients such as amino acids is very important in promoting musculoskeletal health. However the research indicates that intensive physical activity seems to activate DNA responses which may conserve our telomeres.
Interestingly lengthy running seems to result in improved markers of inflammation within the body over a period of time. One study reports that just one day a week of physical activity is linked with lower levels of oxidative stress markers over a period of time with more exercise then lowering inflammation further.
This could be as a result of healthy fat tissue loss. Fat tissue typically worsens low grade systemic inflammation and this is linked to the development of chronic diseases. Obesity is linked to increases in inflammatory cytokines and may increase risks of metabolic syndrome.
Running And Our Brain
Exertive exercise seems to encourage the release of various natural chemicals and neurotransmitters within the brain. There is extensive research that shows how this could really be supportive of mental wellbeing. Exercise may increase endorphin production in the brain which is linked with a more positive mood and feelings of wellbeing. Running is an intensive exercise which may also encourage healthy sleep and reduce feelings of anxiety. Running may also support our testosterone levels which may also be supportive of mental health.
Some studies show that regular running could help to lessen the effects of depression. One study found that two weeks of running reduced symptoms of depression in young adults. Regular running may also positively change the structure of one brain area called the hippocampus. The hippocampus has also been linked to depression in different studies. This is another way in which regular lengthy and intensive runs could support our overall wellbeing.
There is additional research which shows that running could improve brain vascular through new blood vessel development as a way of enhancing brain function. A regular blood supply is very important in supporting the activities and wellness of our brain. Some studies suggest that this could be supportive of improvements to spatial learning and memory.
One study suggests that taking up a regular activity such as distance running may also influence someone to take up other healthy behaviours. These lifestyle changes may also be supportive of the overall wellness of an individual and could prompt holistic wellness changes. Research also indicates that running may influence aspects of neurotransmission in brain areas responsible in impulse regulation and motivation. This could be a positive on our overall wellbeing too.
Body Confidence And Running
Running utilises various muscles within the body while also encouraging healthy fat loss. This helps to build muscle tone and definition while also possibly helping to release some excess fat tissue too. Studies show that regular running is linked to a lower overall BMI or body mass index which is usually linked with risk of obesity. Running also helps to improve blood vessel vasculature which could be aesthetic.
All of these things could support body confidence in some individuals who feel they may be overweight. While obesity is linked to adverse health outcomes there is a lot of evidence to suggest that maintaining a healthy weight could possibly support our overall wellbeing. This is especially true in terms of risk of cardiovascular diseases. These are two ways in which running could help to support and promote our overall wellbeing.
Research also suggests that individuals who are regular distance runners may also have improved blood lipid profiles. Levels of HDL are improved in individuals who run distances regularly which is currently linked to improved health outcomes. This includes risks of cardiovascular disease. There is also evidence that running could have a positive effect on the regulation of blood sugar within the body.
Overall the research shows clearly that regular distance running could positively influence our health and wellbeing. This includes effects on BMI which may affect risks of some diseases and body confidence as well as support mental wellness.
Summary
Running is a natural activity which stimulates various physiological responses within the body and is also one of the most popular intensive physical activities worldwide. There is a lot of research showing how regular or intensive running sessions may support our overall health and wellness.
Studies have linked increased physical activity to benefits in academic ability, attention span and memory. Physical inactivity is one of the most common behavioural causes of death globally.
Intensive athletic activities such as lengthy running sessions may preserve the length of our DNA telomeres. This could occur through the stimulation of genetic responses that preserve our genetic code and promote longevity.
Running may also encourage healthy weight reduction or a lowering of BMI. This may have a positive effect on various aspects of our wellbeing through reductions in inflammation and the promotion of body confidence. Running may also support improvements in HDL levels and reductions in risks of cardiovascular disease.
Research indicates that running may have positive effects on our overall brain wellness too. Running may release neurotransmitters and chemicals within the brain which positively contribute to our mood or promote a healthier brain structure.
Studies show that running may reduce feelings of anxiety and also could encourage healthier sleep. One deeply linked research area is depression with regular running shown to possibly be able to help support those with depression.
There is also evidence that running may improve brain vasculature through encouraging new blood vessel development. This could also be supportive of improvements in brain function.
Overall the research shows clearly that regular distance or intensive running could positively influence our wellbeing. This includes effects on weight reduction which may affect risks of some diseases and support of mental wellness.
