Healthy Lifestyles

Why is running such a popular activity worldwide? For a variety of reasons ‰ÛÒ including its association with countless health benefits. With little to no specialist equipment required, it is one of the most accessible forms of exercise. Just as long as you stick to it, your running regime could return an array of incredible physical health benefits including: 1. Improved Heart Health A heart is the most powerful and important muscle in the human body. It also requires regular exercise to remain healthy and operate efficiently. Running prompts the heart to pump more blood to muscles around the body,...

Sufficient consumption of fluids while exercising has always been critically important. The Dangers of Dehydration Contrary to a popular belief, dehydration and thirst are by no means the same thing. Feeling thirsty is one thing, but when the body becomes even modestly dehydrated, the toll taken on both physical and psychological health can be devastating. While over-hydration can also be problematic, it is comparatively rare for runners to consume too much fluid while exercising.  Some of the most common symptoms associated with dehydration include weight loss, lethargy, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion and dry mouth or lips. Unfortunately, it typically isn't...

No matter how determined you are to make running a regular part of your life, you‰Ûªre guaranteed to struggle with your motivation from time to time. It‰Ûªs the same with most types of physical activities ‰ÛÒ what begins as an exciting and enjoyable new venture quickly becomes dull and mundane. The truth is: if you allow running to become a repetitive and primarily a solitary daily activity, the fun soon comes to an end. The question is: what can you do to maintain the motivation to stick to your running regime long-term? 1. Share the Experience One of the best...

When it comes to preventing shin splints and improving your performance, the single most important weapon in your arsenal is a pair of high-quality running shoes supplemented by a good pair of compression socks. Be sure to follow these guidelines while shopping for athletic footwear: 1. Establish Your Foot Type Human feet fall into three basic brackets: Neutral-arched mid-arched (overpronators high-arched (underpronators) Your foot type will determine which running shoes are appropriate or otherwise. Rather than attempting to figure things out manually, it‰Ûªs far easier to visit a quality footwear store for a professional consultation. 2. Don‰Ûªt Rely on Size...

Newcomers to running are oftentimes tempted to dive in at the deep end. They technically know how to run already and therefore assume they know exactly what they‰Ûªre doing. Unfortunately, this is the mistake that can potentially have very serious consequences. There is a number of common rookie errors to avoid as a newcomer to running: Overestimating Your Abilities If you have never done any real running in your life, you need to start out as slowly and gradually as possible. Worse still, if you have never done any form of intensive physical exercise, you need to think carefully about...