Most of us that go to the gym in Makati probably dread doing cardio. Cardiovascular exercise, or cardio for short, is any kind of exercise that increases your heart rate and gets your blood circulation going. It is one of the most important parts of working out and should be part of any decent fitness plan.
Cardio exercises are recommended by fitness experts for their health benefits and as a way to burn off calories. Even if we have busy schedules, finding time to do even the most basic cardio can pay off big time. Fortunately, many people are now seeing the importance of good health and the role it plays in having a happy and positive outlook on life.
Aside from weight loss, cardiovascular exercises can also provide a host of other benefits. Here are a few reasons why cardio is important:
Table of Contents
Increases your metabolism
One reason to stay on top of your cardio exercises is its effects on your metabolism. Cardiovascular exercise increases the rate of other processes in the body, also known as your metabolism, along with speeding up your heart rate.
In simpler terms, you are more likely to notice an increase in your metabolic rate the more intense your cardio session is. High-intensity interval training or HIIT is an exercise that focuses on intense, interval sprints. This increases the metabolism through a process called Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption or EPOC.
An increase in metabolism means that you will have a much easier time maintaining, or losing weight.
Improves heart health
Another benefit of cardio is that it can improve the condition of your heart. The heart is a muscle, and just like any other muscle in the body, it must be worked for it to be strong. Your heart weakens over time if you fail to work it out which may cause a variety of negative health effects.
You can keep your heart healthy and in shape by getting it to pump at a faster rate on a regular basis. If you are one of those people that get easily winded just performing simple tasks like walking up the stairs, keeping your heart active through cardio might be the solution to your problem.
Better recovery ability
After doing a particularly hard session in your gym, hopping on the treadmill for a light jog or a walk will help your body get rid of some of the harmful by-products that were made during lifting.
Doing cardio after a heavy workout will help reduce your DOMS or delayed onset of muscle soreness, and will help bring more oxygen-rich blood to the muscle tissue which improves the rebuilding and repair process. In other words, you are going to be able to go back to the gym quicker and work your muscles once again.
Cardio can help your muscles recover fully after lifting resulting in a more frequent workout schedule and a faster addition of new muscle mass.
Key Takeaway
Cardiovascular exercises can contribute and help you achieve your fitness goals. It has many benefits and can greatly improve the quality of your life.
Now is as good a time as any to start doing some cardio. Make it a part of your daily routine and stay fit and healthy for a long time.