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Cardio is important for all health and fitness goals, but not all types of cardio are equal. While there are a dizzying array of cardio options — from walking to rowing to sprinting and more — for you to choose from, the best form of cardio for you depends on your current fitness status, any pre-existing injuries or concerns you have, and the specific targets you've set for yourself and your wellness journey.
Don't get overwhelmed with your options. In this guide to the best cardio workouts, we'll break down everything you need to know to escape treadmill purgatory and power up your cardio game.
The scientific health benefits of cardio are well-documented, especially as it relates to weight loss and healthy weight management. But the health benefits of regular cardio extend far beyond dropping a few extra pounds around your waistline. Cardio is important for everyone, including those who are focused on building strength and muscle mass, and helps to:
The standard recommendation endorsed by the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and most fitness advocacy groups is that you need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio a week.
But as you can see in the following cardio comparison, the exact type of cardio also makes a difference.
Best For: Beginners, seniors, and those wanting to use cardio as a warm-up or cool-down exercise.
Start with brisk walking if you're new to working out. Walking strikes the perfect balance between cardiovascular benefits (one study found that walking and running had similar effects on disease risks, blood pressure, etc.) and being applicable to all experience levels and age ranges. It's also a weight-bearing movement, which helps you maintain healthy bones, joints, and muscles.
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Best For: Moderate to advanced fitness levels and those wanting to enhance their endurance.
Running offers a more strenuous approach than walking, and this increased pressure on your body and heart rate helps increase your aerobic fitness, extend your endurance, and burn more calories. However, due to the high-impact nature of running, beginners should be cautious. Your form and footwear have a significant effect on your risks of overuse injuries, shin splints, and fractures.
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Best For: Full-body, low-impact cardio that's strenuous yet easier on your joints.
There's a reason that swimming is one of the top five most popular forms of exercise in the United States. Unlike most other forms of cardio, it's a true full-body workout hitting every major muscle group. Thus, it improves your endurance and your strength. And because of water's natural buoyancy, swimming is a low-impact sport ideal for injury rehabilitation, seniors, and people of all fitness levels.
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Best For: More advanced workouts, strength building, and those who want to push their endurance limits and burn a lot of calories.
Both cycling and rowing are excellent if you want to push your heart rate and lung capacity to their limits. While they're each a form of cardio, they're also unique in that they have significant strength-building aspects.
Cycling will augment your lower body endurance. Meanwhile, rowing is more of a total body movement (the American Fitness Professionals Association calculates that rowing is 35% upper bodywork and 65% lower bodywork). Both, however skyrocket your lung capacity.
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