Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Published : October 31, 2014 3:50 PM IST
PM Narendra Modi flagged off the Run For Unity campaign today in the nations capital to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The day will be commemorated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. The campaign launched with a lot of fan-fare and sporting stars like Sushil Kumar, Vijender Singh, Virendra Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir also participated in the event. PM Narendra Modi walked along the large crowd followed by other politicians including Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Naidu and Arun Jaitely. the Prime Minister administered the oath of unity to participants and said that 'Let us not forget that a nation that disregards its history can never create one...Don't divide history, legacy in narrow confines of ideology.'
The run that started from Vijay Chowk to India Gate at eight in the morning today was also a way for the youth of India to come together. But why did the Pm decide to use running as a way to get people together? Well, not only is running really healthy but it also better if you do it with a group of people.
Here are a few reasons running is good for your health:
Great for your heart: The interiors of the two ventricles that pump out blood increase in size by 20 percent when you run. This increases blood supply all across your body, and benefits several organs. It also helps reduce bad cholesterol which is often the culprit behind heart diseases like heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke.
Great for your lungs: Running helps improve your lung function and helps you breathe better which improves your overall quality of life and existence.
Helps you lose weight: Running can help burn calories and make you lose weight. It is difficult to say how much calories you ll burn as that depends on your weight and the speed at which you run. Read our simple weight loss guide.
Slows down ageing: Nobody likes to grow old but it is inevitable. Running has several health benefits that can delay the process. Several studies have confirmed that exercising can reverse ageing and running is one of the best forms of exercise you can do.
Beats depression: Few things can treat depression more rapidly than running. What happens is that running releases endorphins in your body and thus elevates your mood. Read more about how depression is more common than you think.
Image source: Getty Images
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.
