It’s no secret that regular cardio is essential for your overall well-being. It helps to build muscle and lose weight, as well as reduce stress and enhance cognitive functions.
But regular aerobic exercise can also improve wellness in unexpected ways, contributing to an overall better physical and mental state. Yes, there’s a great benefit to track steps & running pace, as well as calculate your heart rate training zones and it goes far beyond improved endurance and strength.
With all that in mind, scroll down to learn about three surprising health benefits of regular cardio.
Benefit #1: improved eye health
You may be caring for your eyes by wearing glasses or regularly getting eye exams, but cardio can also play a role in improving your eye health. Regular exercise promotes healthier blood vessels and prevents overgrowth, as seen in conditions like age-related macular degeneration.
People who do moderate physical activity may also be less likely to develop glaucoma than inactive individuals. Staying active also helps manage other health conditions that affect the eyes, such as controlling diabetes to reduce the risk of diabetic retinopathy. Bringing cardio outdoors can also allow your eyes to focus on various distances, reducing strain you may experience if you’re constantly looking at near objects like a computer screen.
If you often exercise outside, it’s important you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Find the best glasses for face shape ensures they stay on at all times (i.e. when you’re running), and conceal your eyes from UV rays and debris.
The frame advisor tool on LensCrafters can help you find the right sporty eyewear. It measures your face shape, size, interpupillary distance, and even skin undertone to find fitting and flattering shades. This will allow you to do cardio while keeping your eyes healthy and protected from the great outdoors.
Benefit #2: better sleep
Sleep is a core aspect of overall health and is key to an athlete’s recovery. However, getting enough of it is not always easy. Besides the things that help you unwind, like relaxing routines or ditching devices, regular cardio is one of the best ways to help you sleep better. Being active may seem counterproductive for sleeping, but it promotes bodily changes that prime you for shut-eye.
Read also: 12 Proven Sleep Hygiene Tips For Athletes To Get Better Sleep
Aerobic exercises normalizes circadian rhythm and promotes timely release of melatonin—the hormone that makes you sleepy at night. This can help you fall asleep earlier and for longer (in case your bedtime is close or past midnight). Also, the temperature drop you experience after working out can help you get a good night’s rest.
Another benefit of cardio is that it reduces stress and boosts your mood, preventing sleep issues and interruptions caused by anxiety. You can track both your fitness and sleep patterns with a device like a smartwatch. Doing so can help you get a better view of your habits, so you can adjust accordingly. Smartwatches like the Apple Watch may even be able to detect sleep conditions like sleep apnea so you can get the care you need for better rest timely.
Benefit #3: Improved skin health
Skincare has become all the rage in recent years, but you don’t need an endless array of products to improve your look. Regular cardio can give you a natural glow by boosting skin function. When you exercise regularly, your blood flow and circulation improve, carrying vital nutrients and oxygen to skin cells as well, which boosts their functions. It also carries away waste and free radicals, essentially cleansing your skin from the inside. Cardio workouts can aid in maintaining skin hydration and even enhance skin structure for plump, moisturized and younger look.
Also, stress and poor sleep can impact the skin’s barrier function. However, the environment you exercise in can also negatively affect your skin without the proper measures (i.e. direct sunlight).
If you work out outside, a broad-spectrum sunscreen is a must for blocking UVA and UVB rays and preventing sunburns and skin cancer. Wearing moisture-wicking clothing can keep chafing at bay to avoid exacerbating acne and rashes. If you have a skin condition like rosacea or eczema, exercising in a cool environment can reduce the intensity of flare-ups.
Richard Rosenberger
Richard is a freelance writer, researcher, and editor. As an avid runner and sports fan, Richard enjoys writing about these topics the best. He spends his weekends training for and joining marathons.
