Why Cardio is so Important

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The Best Form of Cardio

There are many forms of cardiovascular exercise. The best ones are those you will stick with and enjoy. Walking is great because it’s a weight-bearing exercise, which is crucial for maintaining bone density and reducing your risk of developing osteoporosis. For maximum fitness, include more than one activity to challenge different parts of your body. For example, walk a few days a week and mix in other forms of exercise, like biking or swimming, on other days.

The "Talk Test"
A good gauge of exercise intensity is whether or not you can talk while working out. "You should exercise at a level where you feel as if you're working hard, but still are able to have a conversation," Dr. Nieca Goldberg says. As you become more experienced with exercise, you'll gain a better sense of how much you're exerting yourself. According to the American Heart Association, exercising for 30–60 minutes at 50–80 percent of your maximum capacity on most days of the week will help you reach a moderate level of cardiac fitness.