Why do we need to do cardio? For some, it’s a passion; for others, it’s not a particularly pleasant word. Cardiovascular exercise, also known as aerobic training, is an important factor that shouldn’t be overlooked. Cardiovascular training (cardio) increases your heart rate and circulation throughout the body. Cardio exercises burn excess fat and improve heart function. The heart is also a muscle, and like any other muscle, it needs to be trained to become stronger. Cardio speeds up your metabolism.
What are the benefits of cardio?
Whether it’s an addition to strength training or done on its own, cardio offers a number of health benefits. Here are some of them!
- Speeds up your metabolism (a faster metabolism makes it easier to maintain a body with a low percentage of subcutaneous fat);
- Improves your mood (cardio exercises release a series of “happy hormones” (endorphins, dopamine and serotonin), which help relieve symptoms of depression and fatigue);
- Improves recovery (moderate-intensity cardio can reduce recovery time after a workout);
- Oxygenates your muscles and improves circulation throughout the body;
- Increases the elimination of toxins;
- People who do cardio regularly maintain better blood sugar levels than those who don’t exercise;
A set of top cardio exercises recommended by Katerina Filipovska
In the video below, fitness trainer Katerina Filipovska presents a selection of cardio exercises.
Katerina Filipovska has been involved in fitness for 15 years. She has been a professional fitness and bodybuilding coach for 7 years. She is a certified instructor with IFBB, Slovenia. Katerina Filipovska leads group and personal training sessions at Pulse Fitness & Spa Bulgaria.