Cardiovascular exercise is an essential component of any workout, whether you want to lose weight, get fit or just be healthier. Health authorities recommend 150 minutes of cardio exercises per week to reduce health risks.

What is Cardiovascular Exercise?

Cardio exercise is anything that raises your heart rate and makes you breathe heavy. This can include running, jogging, swimming, cycling, and even weight training if it is of adequate intensity. It simply means that you’re doing a rhythmic activity that raises your heart rate into your target heart rate zone, the zone where you will burn the most fat and calories.

What are the Benefits of Cardiovascular Exercise?

You might not know just how beneficial cardio exercise can be for you, but when you realise how good it is, you may find yourself wanting to do it right away. Some of the known benefits include:

– Makes your heart stronger so that it doesn’t have to work as hard to pump blood around your body
– Helps to reduce your risk of heart attack, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes
– Increases your lung capacity
– Helps you burn fat and calories for weight loss
– Contributes to a reduction in stress
– Improves sleep
– Can have a positive impact on your mood

What Cardiovascular Exercise is Best?

There is no “best” cardiovascular exercise. It’s important to find out what’s accessible to you, what fits your personality, and what you’d feel comfortable doing. If you like being outdoors, then why not go running, cycling or walking. Alternatively, if you prefer to go to the gym, you have access to much more equipment such as stationary bikes, elliptical trainers, treadmills and rowing machines.

You may have to try several different activities before you find one that works for you. Don’t be afraid to try something, and if it doesn’t work, move on to something else.

How long should a Cardiovascular Workout Be?

Guidelines suggest anywhere from 20-60 minutes of cardio to be healthy, with a minimum of three times a week.

People who don’t workout don’t have more time than people who don’t. They have just practiced making exercise a priority. Schedule your workouts and treat them like an important meeting you have to attend.

Try adding small bursts of cardio throughout the day if you don’t want to do such long cardio workouts only once a day. Walk and climb stairs instead of driving and taking an elevator. If you find any opportunity to do some cardio, then take it. The point is to do something. If you think ten minutes is not enough time to workout, you couldn’t be more wrong. Every single minute counts.

Keep in mind that doing too much cardio is a no-no as well, and can actually backfire, so don’t forget to take rest days when needed.

To Summarise

Cardiovascular exercise has some important benefits to your overall health. It keeps your heart strong and healthy, as well as positively affecting your body and mind. Just remember to keep it simple, and the more you practice, the easier it gets.