Running five to 10 minutes a day is as good for health and longevity as jogging for an hour, according to American researchers.
A study by scientists from the University of Iowa, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, reveals that running for a few minutes a day is just as effective in extending life as long-term jogging.
The research included 55.000 adults, with an average age of 44, who were followed for 15 years.
People who run just five to 10 minutes a day can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death.
The authors of the study did not observe any major differences between people who run a little (50 minutes a week) and those who run a lot (150 minutes a week), whether they do it fast or easy (less than 10 kilometers per hour).
Overall, people who chose running as a form of physical activity were 30 percent less likely to die prematurely and 45 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease compared to non-runners.
"Since lack of free time is the main reason we don't engage in physical activity, this study could encourage people to start running," commented research leader Dak-Chul Lee.
"Even the group of people who run the shortest weekly distance (up to 10 kilometers), who do it the least often (once or twice) and the slowest (less than 10 kilometers per hour) are more likely to live to a very old age than people who don't run." , the study points out.
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