For some people, cardio is a dreaded word while for others, it is a passion they cannot get enough of. However you choose to view it, the truth is that cardiorespiratory exercise is one of the most important components that shouldn’t be omitted in any fitness plan.
Many people doing cardio use it as a way to shed of the excess fat and calories since a lot of body movement is involved. However, it should be known that weight loss should not be the only reason to do cardio. There are many other benefits that you can reap from regular cardiorespiratory exercise as highlighted below.
One great benefit of cardio is improved heart health. Just like other body muscles, the heart requires frequent working and exercise for it to remain strong. Failure to exercise the heart will cause it to weaken over time which can result in an array of adverse health effects.
Getting the heart to pump faster regularly will help keep it healthy and in good shape. In addition, cardiorespiratory activity forces the lungs, heart and circulatory system to work hard as to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the body muscles.
Another great reason why cardio should be part of your fitness program is because of its effect on your body metabolism. Apart from increasing your heart rate alone, cardio also plays a crucial role in increasing the rate of many other body processes.
From a medical perspective, the greater the intensity of your cardio session is, the more noticeable increase you shall witness in terms of your metabolic rate. Increased body metabolism translated into an easy time maintaining your body weight.
Some forms of cardiorespiratory exercise, usually the low-intensity and moderately paced forms, reduce your recovery time after exercise. If you’ve been hitting the gym hard for almost an hour, a light jog or walking on the treadmill will help in getting rid of all waste products that were created by the body during your intense gym session.
Cardio not only aids in reducing muscle soreness but also helps in the delivery of oxygen-rich blood to the body muscles for an improved muscle repair and rebuilding process
