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Health and Fitness Benefits of Aerobic Exercise


Many people know that aerobic exercise is good for them, but often wonder about the far-reaching health and fitness benefits of engaging in aerobic activity. Aerobic exercise not only conditions the heart and lungs, but also improves your fitness and overall health through a number of means. There are numerous types of aerobic exercises that can accommodate various interests and fitness levels, so everyone can find an aerobic activity that is right for them.

More ways to improve heart health here! 

How Aerobic Exercise Works
The word aerobic means with oxygen and describes the process of using oxygen to generate energy for the muscles. An aerobic exercise is an exercise that is performed at a moderate intensity and keeps the heart rate elevated for an extended period of time, maximizing the amount of oxygen in your blood, according to the Mayo Clinic. The use of oxygen to burn fat produces adenosine triphosphate, which carries energy to the muscles and other cells. By engaging in aerobic activity, you are helping your body burn fat to use as energy, which improves both health and fitness.

Find out how many calories you can burn with aerobic exercise here!

Health Benefits of Aerobics
The health benefits of engaging in aerobic exercise are extensive. Aerobics opens up your blood vessels and strengthens your heart, helping your blood pump and flow more efficiently. According to the Mayo Clinic, aerobic exercise boosts your high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lowers your low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, keeping your arteries clear. Engaging in aerobic exercise also boosts your immune system, can lower your blood pressure, produces endorphins (your body's natural pain killers), and can even help you live longer, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Fitness Benefits of Aerobics
You can improve you fitness in many ways by doing aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise burns fat as fuel and helps you lose weight. It improves your stamina and endurance, allowing you to work out longer and maintain energy throughout the day. It improves muscle tone and strengthens the body overall. Engaging in aerobic exercise also helps you maintain fitness as you age, and according to the Mayo Clinic, it "keeps your muscles strong, which can help you maintain mobility as you get older."

Read more on exercise and joint health to improve mobility as you age. 

Types of Aerobic Exercises
There are various types of aerobic exercises that can accommodate different fitness levels and personal interests. Novices can begin with walking or doing light jogging, individuals with injuries or health considerations can do low impact aerobics such as swimming or biking, and more advanced individuals can engage in more intense exercises such as running, rowing, or stair climbing. For those who get bored doing traditional exercises, dancing, skiing, soccer and other sports might be ideal. The goal with any aerobic exercise is to increase your heart rate for a duration that is conducive to your fitness level. The Mayo Clinic suggests that beginners start slow and gradually increase the duration and intensity of the aerobic exercise over time.

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How to Lose Weight With the Total Gym
What Machine is Used to Trim the Waist?

Mayo Clinic: Aerobic Exercise: Top 10 Reasons to Get Physical
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aerobic-exercise/EP00002

Photo credit: US Military 

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