With more Americans feeling crunched for time, we're finding less time for working out. Unfortunately, this is taking a toll on our health.

While any activity is better than none, cardiovascular exercise (also called cardio or aerobic exercise) is the best thing for your heart.

Cardio is any repetitive movement of the large muscles that increases the work of the heart and lungs; you breathe more quickly, and your heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature all increase.

Getting started with a new cardio workout can feel overwhelming at first. But the results are too good to pass up.

Benefits of Cardio Exercise

When done regularly, aerobic exercise enables the heart to pump more blood with less effort. It also lowers harmful types of cholesterol, while at the same time building up the good kinds.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

Your heart isn't the only thing that benefits from regular cardio.

Intense exercise boosts your metabolism for the rest of the day, making your more likely to shed extra pounds. Exercise also releases endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers), which gives you a “runner’s high” feeling.†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

“People have a better sense of well-being when they exercise,” says Andrew Costin, MD, FACC, a cardiologist in Princeton, New Jersey. “They’re not as anxious and they decrease their risk of depression.”

No Pain, No Gain? No Way!

The key to cardio is to pace yourself. You should feel invigorated after your workout—not as though you were run over by a truck.

First, go for a physical if you have been relatively inactive for a long period of time. And keep in mind that “some people can’t raise their heart rate due to medications,” according to Costin.

If your practitioner gives you the OK, brisk walking is a great way to get started:

• Walk on relatively flat terrain for 10 to 15 minutes, five times per week.
• Increase the duration of your walk by five minutes each week until you reach 30 to 50 minutes.
• Incorporate hillier terrain as you feel ready.

Swimming laps at a local pool is one of the best cardio workouts, particularly for those who want to avoid joint impact. Outdoor enthusiasts can jog, Rollerblade, cycle or cross-country ski (with a backup plan for bad weather).

In addition to conventional cardio machines, many gyms offer a creative assortment of aerobic classes that include cardio kickboxing and cardio dance.

If competition drives you, join (or start) a sports group: Basketball, soccer and ultimate Frisbee will keep your heart rate up. Exercising with buddies can relieve the monotony of repetitive movement and help you stay motivated and consistent.

Getting Into the Cardio Zone

To get the most out of cardio, here’s what you need to do:

• Engage in a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week
• Improve endurance with 30 to 60 minutes of moderate-to-high intensity exercise four-to-five times per week
• The “talk test” is a simple way to measure exertion...
  • If you can speak easily with no shortness of breath, step things up a notch
  • If you are so out of breath that talking is difficult, take it down a bit.
• Check your heart rate:
  • Subtract your age from 220 to estimate your maximum heart rate
  • The target heart rate for cardio improvement is around 70% of this maximum (i.e., if you are 40 years old, your maximum heart rate is approximately 180 (220-40), so your target heart rate for exercise is around 126 beats per minute)
  • Check your heart rate while you exercise by counting your pulse for six seconds and adding a zero
  • For more accurate results, purchase a heart rate monitor

Always include a warm-up and cool-down period for a few minutes at each end of your workout.

Starting out gradually will lubricate joints, prevent injuries and prepare your body for more vigorous movement. Cooling down with some stretches or walking will allow the heart rate to drop gradually, prevent lightheadedness or muscle cramping and also lengthen the muscles while they are still warm and pliable.

If you get bored on the treadmill, add variety to your routine with interval or cross-training programs.

Interval training involves alternating between high-intensity activity and more moderate exercise (such as sprinting for one or two minutes, and then jogging at a slower pace for three-to-five minutes). Combine two different types of exercise (like skipping rope and cycling) for a challenging cross-training workout.

Add strength training (such as pushups or free-weight exercises) into rest periods to incorporate sculpting and toning into your cardio program. Get into a meditative zone by focusing on your breath, opening your senses to your environment, and becoming keenly aware of your physical experience.