and why it's so important
Hey team, Mitch here, and I'm about to dive into Aerobic Exercise and why it's so important for athletes and the everyday person alike. So to get this ball rolling, we first must ask ourselves…..
What Is Aerobic Exercise?
Most people would know it as cardio but by definition, Aerobic Exercise is any type of cardiovascular conditioning (hence the common name of cardio). It can include activities like Running, Swimming, Rowing, Cycling, or even walking at a brisk pace.
The term Aerobic means ‘with oxygen’. Our breathing controls the amount of oxygen that can make our muscles to help them burn fuel and move. That means the more aerobic exercise and training a person does, the more capable and efficient their heart gets at pumping oxygenated blood to the working muscles with every beat, as well as the lungs and muscles adapting to be able to take in more oxygen and be more efficient in creating movement.
Another Way to think about aerobic exercise is the type and intensity of the training. This is where your heart rate and breathing increase to assist the demand for more oxygenated blood to flow to working muscles to create movement, but not so much that you need to stop and rest after a short period of time (this can change for everyone but usually under 2 minutes).
Benefits of Aerobic Exercise
Strengthens the Heart - A stronger heart doesn't have to work as hard, and is more effective at pumping blood throughout the body.
Reduces Risk of Health Ailments - Aerobic Exercise helps reduce the risk of many conditions including Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Type 2 Diabetes, and High Cholesterol.
Assists In Weight Loss - Alongside a calorie deficit, aerobic exercise helps lose unwanted weight and also assists in keeping it off with regular training and proper nutrition.
Increase in Stamina - Over time, Aerobic Exercise will reduce fatigue and increase overall stamina, giving you more energy throughout the day leaving you less tired.
Helps Clear Your Arteries - Aerobic Exercise will help boost your HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein aka Good) cholesterol (Good) and lower your LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein aka Bad) cholesterol levels.
Stimulates the Immune System - Gives the body a stronger system to help fight diseases and ward off viral and other forms of illness.
Assists in the development of age and staying healthy - this one seems pretty straightforward, staying aerobically active will help your body continue to move and slow the aging process of the body and also helps clear the mind and improve cognitive ability.
Boosts Mood - when engaging in aerobic exercise, endorphins are released that can lead to a heightened sense of well-being.
In Conclusion
Aerobic Exercise is any type of cardiovascular conditioning that uses oxygen as the main energy source. This type of exercise is extremely important and beneficial for not just general fitness but also for everyone's overall health and well-being. There are many different ways to train our Aerobic Energy System from going for a run to training in the gym with friends or even at home with little to no equipment. An active life filled with aerobic exercise is a happy and longer-lasting life.
Healthy = Happy
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