Unravelling the Mystery: Does Running Really Contribute to Holistic Health?

Imagine running with the whispers of doubt tailing behind you, constantly murmuring about the supposed damage you’re doing to your heart. Or better yet, your muscles screaming at you about losing their strength due to running overloads.

This has been the confusing narrative over the last decade, with experts debating whether running, or aerobic exercise in general, is truly beneficial to our health, or if the possible damages overshadow those benefits. However, fear not, recently released data by InsideTracker, through a study in PLoS ONE, promises new insights that might redefine what we know about running and its contribution to our overall wellness.

Running Through the Data Lane

First things first, keep in mind two vital caveats to this study. Notably, this research is observational, that is, it doesn’t establish cause and effect but unveils patterns that may be suggesting a certain correlation between variables. Moreover, the study relies on a self-selected cohort, a group who are health-conscious enough to spend on personalized blood testing, skewing the results towards an inherently healthier control group.

Healthy Cholesterol, Healthy Heart

Runners, brace yourselves! It seems your running routine is doing wonders for your cardiovascular health. The study reveals that runners, regardless of the intensity of their training, exhibit higher levels of HDL (good cholesterol) compared to those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. So, it appears pounding the pavement might just be the way to love your heart better!

The Sugar Rush

When peeking at fasting glucose levels, a pattern less pronounced emerges. The difference between runners and non-runners is noted, yet the ‘more mileage equals better results’ formula does not necessarily apply. In simple words, running does help manage blood sugar, but running more doesn’t ensure improved control over it.

One interesting discussion point is the surprisingly good blood sugar levels of the sedentary control group, indicating its already significantly healthy baseline. This might decrease the observable contrast between runners and the average population when it comes to blood sugar levels, creating a skew that could conceal some evident benefits on this front from running.

Firing Up Inflammation?

Running, especially more voluminous running, seems to be linked to lower levels of chronic low-grade inflammation, contrary to previous finger-pointing. This is based on data regarding C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, and ferritin. The pro runners, however, exhibited lower magnesium levels, a sign associated with tendon problems, suggesting the importance of monitoring this area when undergoing heavy training.

Weighing in on BMI

Behold the scales! The more you run, the less you weigh, busting the belief that exercise doesn’t contribute to weight loss. The data suggests that those who exercise intensely probably weigh less than they would if they were not as active. This may be tangled with genetic factors as running seems to counter the effects of gene variants related to obesity, as indicated by the study.

However, the question arises, are all observed health benefits solely secondary effects of a lower BMI? Here’s where it gets tricky, as the line between genes and behavior becomes blurrier. However, the data shows that the effect of running on health markers might not be solely a byproduct of lower BMI, suggesting other independent effects of running on health.

To Run or Not to Run?

Placing this study under the lens, it’s plain to see that the debate about running and its health effects will keep us on our heels. However, the data does reveal promising trends, leaning towards endorsing running as an integral part of a holistic wellness lifestyle. So, next time you tie your trainers, remember, it’s not just about the sweat or the calories burned, it’s about the long-term investment in your overall health. So, keep running, keep burning, and keep shining!

• Running increases HDL (good cholesterol) and overall, running more seems to increase it further.
• Fasting glucose levels are better controlled in runners than non-runners, yet running more doesn’t necessarily ensure improved control.
• Running seems to decrease chronic low-grade inflammation levels.
• Intense exercise might counteract the effect of gene variants related to obesity.
• Running likely has effects on health markers independent of the effects of lower body mass index (BMI).

Source Citation: https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/runners-blood-testing-study/