This Fitness Fad Has Been Scientifically Proven To Be More Effective Than Traditional Methods

by N/A, 10 years ago | 2 min read

Fitness fads are as ubiquitous as any, but the newest wave of exercise fame surrounds High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) which alternates short periods of vigorous anaerobic exercise and a less vigorous recovery period.

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Research from Stockholm's Karolinska Institute suggests that HIIT can deliver similar benefits as longer endurance exercises.

In their experiment, active men performed a session of 3-6 sets of high-intensity cycling for 30 seconds, with 4 minutes of rest between each set.

24 hours later they took a thigh biopsy and found that the exercise had dramatically increased the number of free radicals in the body.

These free radicals help the body to break down calcium channels in muscle cells which in turn, improves their ability to adapt and form new mitochondria.

According to Håkan Westerblad, primary researcher and professor of physiology and pharmacology.

Since mitochondria (aka the cell's powerhouse) convert sugar into energy, an increase in their number increases muscle endurance as well.

So HIIT it!