Longevity Health Benefits of Running – Run For Your Life

Regular exercise is no doubt one of the key element in achieving good health and fitness, and even longevity. A few articles back, we've learned the health benefits of walking. Right now, let's take it to the next level and get a title faster as we explore the health benefits of running.

A recent study1 finds that with just an hour of running can add 7 hours of your life.

Running is one of the simplest ways to achieve longevity. Additionally, running along with healthy lifestyle practices such as a healthy diet, quality sleep, and drinking pomegranate juice could further boost the longevity benefit. Hence, starting running for your life.

One Hour Of Running Adds 7 Hours of Life

Pounding the pavement for an hour can potentially add 7 hours of your life. This is a healthy return for such a short time investment. In this study, the researchers analyzed 55,000 over a period of 15 years. After the analysis, researchers find that when it comes to life expectancy, running is the single best form of exercise.

Moreover, the researchers find that runners typically live 3 years longer than non-runners. This study is actually a follow-up of a previous study2

Duck-chul Lee, co-author of the study told New York Times;

Running does not make people immortal. The gains in life expectancy are capped at around three extra years. The good news is that prolonged running does not seem to become counterproductive for longevity. Improvements in life expectancy generally plateaued at about four hours of running per week.

Here's previous findings by Standford University study3 back in 2008 on longevity as one of the health benefits of running.

Vigorous exercise (running) at middle and older ages is associated with reduced disability in later life and a notable survival advantage.

The study says that older runners are better able to fight off illness like cancer and less likely to die from a heart attack. On the other hand, older people who are just starting to run should start slowly while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Here's Voice of America reporting on findings of the previous study.

Can't Run? Do Brisk Walking Instead

A 100-year old worker's advice to living longer is to keep moving. In one study4, researchers find that speed walking contributes to longevity.

In the study, the researchers examined the walking speeds of 35,000 older adults who are 75 years old or older. The researchers found that those who walk the fastest enjoyed a longer lifespan.

Furthermore, 87% of the fastest men living are able to outlive the slowest walking men by 10 years. In women, 90% of the fastest walking women also outlived their slow peers by up to 10 years.

In another study5 back in 2011, the researchers find that the optimal steps for walking for reaping other health benefits is 10,000 steps a day.

Running Tips For Beginners

Here are tips for beginners to start a safe and healthy running routine.

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