Tuesday, October 25, 2011

High Intensity Beats Longevity

High-intensity exercise beats long workouts for longevity.
Slow and steady doesn’t always win the race. Research presented at the annual European Society of Cardiology meeting found that workout intensity may trump duration when it comes to living a longer life.

Cyclists who pedaled vigorously outlived those who rode for longer but at a lower intensity. Getting your heart rate up builds cardiovascular fitness. But that doesn’t mean you have to go for an all-out sprint; even a brisk walk can get most people’s hearts pumping. Those in great shape, however, may need to push themselves harder. The key is to keep challenging yourself. If your workout feels easy, it’s time to up the intensity. If you can sing or yell while walking or running, pick up the pace. Don’t overdo it, though. You should still be able to carry on a conversation comfortably.

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