Swimming is a full-body workout that can provide a range of benefits, including increased Improve cardiovascular health, improved muscle strength and endurance, and weight loss. But is swimming cardio?
The answer is yes - swimming is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise that can help improve your heart health and overall fitness.
What Exactly Is Cardio?
Cardiovascular exercise, also known as cardio, refers to any exercise that raises your heart rate and breathing rate. This type of exercise is essential for improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other chronic conditions. Some examples of cardio exercises include running, cycling, and brisk walking.
Swimming is considered a type of cardio exercise because it can elevate your heart rate and breathing rate. When you swim, your body has to work harder to overcome the resistance of the water, which can help improve your cardiovascular endurance and strength.
Increase Your Intensity
The intensity of swimming can also affect its cardiovascular benefits. Swimming at a moderate to vigorous intensity can provide the greatest cardiovascular benefits. One study found that people who swam for 30 minutes at a moderate intensity had lower blood pressure, increased aerobic capacity, and improved lipid profiles compared to those who didn't swim.
The Benefits of Swimming as Cardio
Another benefit of swimming as cardio exercise is that it is low-impact, which means it puts less stress on your joints compared to high-impact exercises like running or jumping. This makes swimming an excellent option for people with joint pain or injuries who still want to get a cardiovascular workout.
Swimming can be an excellent way to cross-train for other cardio exercises. Because swimming is a low-impact exercise, it can help reduce your risk of injury and provide a different type of workout to complement your regular training.
Things to Keep in Mind
When it comes to making swimming a part of your cardio routine, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it's important to warm up before swimming to prevent injury and improve performance. You can warm up by doing some light stretching, walking, or swimming at a slower pace for a few minutes.
Click here to read our article about how to properly warm up for a swim!
Second, it's important to gradually increase the intensity and duration of your swimming workouts. If you're new to swimming, start with shorter distances or intervals and gradually work up to longer distances or continuous swimming.