3 Types of Exercise That Boost Heart Health

Being physically active is a major step toward good heart health. Hundreds of medical studies prove that regular exercise lowers cardiac and chronic diseases, decreases the risk of developing high cholesterol and blood pressure, and reduces stress. Different types of exercise are required to provide complete, effective fitness, with aerobic exercise and resistance training being the most important. These three types of exercises will help you balance your fitness plan:

Aerobic Exercise: Also known as cardio, aerobic exercise strengthens your heart, reduces health risks and improves circulation, which helps lower your blood pressure and heart rate. Exercises are designed to raise your heart rate, increasing your stamina. Biking, walking, jogging, swimming and cycling are a few examples of aerobic exercises. 

Resistance Training: Because resistance training has a more specific effect on body composition, it can help reduce fat and create leaner muscle mass. Research demonstrates that a combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training may help raise HDL (good) cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Resistance training increases muscle mass, helping with weight control, injury prevention and joint protection.

Stretching, Flexibility and Balance: While flexibility workouts don’t directly contribute to heart health, they are a critical part of being able to maintain aerobic exercise and resistance training. Having a good musculoskeletal foundation enables you to do the exercises that will directly help your heart.

Thirty minutes of physical activity, five days per week is all it takes to reap the benefits of this heart-healthy prescription! Consider breaking that time period into two 15-minute sessions if 30 minutes at one time is too much.