What are the Health Benefits of Exercising on a Treadmill?

Regular exercise offers countless health benefits, such as strengthening the heart, reducing weight, and lowering insulin levels. Walking or running on a treadmill is an excellent form of exercise that puts less pressure on the joints compared to walking or running on a flat outdoor surface. Today, the treadmill is a popular choice for home gyms and one of the most favored pieces of fitness equipment on the market. Its popularity stems from the numerous health benefits it provides. In this article, I will introduce you to seven health benefits of exercising on a treadmill. If you're interested, please keep reading.

A photograph showcasing three individuals using treadmills in a gym. From left to right, the first person, dressed in red shorts and white sneakers, is actively running. The middle person, wearing black shorts and blue sneakers, has their feet planted on the treadmill but their body is partially out of the frame.

1. Improve Heart Health

Exercising on a treadmill is an excellent way to enhance your heart health. It provides an effective cardiovascular workout, increasing blood circulation throughout your body and significantly boosting your heart health by maintaining a constant heart rate during the exercise. Therefore, if you have high cholesterol or cardiovascular issues, exercising on a treadmill can be very beneficial. Additionally, running or walking on a treadmill is an excellent aerobic exercise. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise can minimize the risk of heart disease. Exercising on a treadmill can greatly improve your heart health, help lower your blood pressure, and make your heart pump blood more efficiently.

2. Improve Mental Health

A study published in The Lancet focused on the impact of physical activities on mental health, particularly depression. It showed that people who exercise regularly experience fewer days of depression each month. Another study involved people suffering from depression who exercised for 30 minutes on a treadmill. After 10 days, all participants reported a significant reduction in depression symptoms. This clearly demonstrates that aerobic exercise on a treadmill has a considerable impact on your emotional and mental health. Generally, running or walking on a treadmill benefits the brain by helping it release more endorphins, the chemicals that make you feel happy. Therefore, when you exercise on a treadmill, your mood will improve, and the signs of stress, depression, and anxiety will decrease.

3. Enhance Brain Health & Memory

After the age of 30, cognitive processing speed and memory begin to decline due to a decrease in brain cells and neurons. As a result, remembering names or learning new things may take more time. Scientists have demonstrated that exercise can enhance brain function and prevent memory loss. As an excellent aerobic exercise, running on a treadmill is very helpful for enhancing brain health and memory. It increases your heart rate, promoting the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and stimulating the production of hormones that support the growth of brain cells. Regular exercise on a treadmill can also reduce the risk of conditions like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease.

4. Lose Weight & Strengthen Muscles

Perhaps the most well-known benefit of using a treadmill is that it can help you lose weight quickly and effectively. Compared to other aerobic exercises, running or jogging on a treadmill helps you burn calories more quickly and efficiently. The faster and longer you run, the more calories you burn, making it easier to lose weight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 75 minutes of vigorous exercise or 150 minutes of moderate exercise on a treadmill per week is enough to help you lose weight. Additionally, a treadmill is excellent for strengthening muscles, targeting not only your leg muscles but also your hip and arm muscles.

A photograph of two individuals using treadmills in a gym. On the left, a man dressed in a blue sports shirt and light-colored pants focuses forward, seemingly engaged in an intense run. To the right, a woman in a gray sleeveless top and dark pants smiles brightly, appearing content and happy.

5. Reduce Blood Sugar Levels

Lack of regular exercise is one of the main causes of chronic diseases like diabetes. Fortunately, regular exercise on a treadmill helps control insulin levels and reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. A study involving over 3,000 people at high risk of diabetes showed that exercising on a treadmill for 150 minutes per week over three years resulted in each participant losing 12-15 pounds, and more importantly, reducing their risk of diabetes by up to 58%. Therefore, if you have diabetes, using a treadmill can be highly beneficial.

6. Build Bone Density

Regular running on a treadmill helps build bone density, which is the amount of minerals in bones. Higher bone density means stronger bones. Exercising on a treadmill not only builds bone density but also effectively prevents diseases that cause brittle bones, such as osteoporosis. This is very beneficial to your overall health.

7. Improve Sleep Quality

Lastly, exercising on a treadmill can help you sleep better at night. Cardiovascular exercise like running or walking promotes the release of melatonin, the sleep hormone that helps you sleep more soundly. Therefore, if you suffer from insomnia, try exercising on a treadmill.

In conclusion, exercising on a treadmill can improve your health in almost all aspects and provide numerous health benefits. I hope you can start using one soon to embark on your journey to healthy exercise.