Exercising, eating well and living a happy-stress free life are the cornerstones of good health. Any one of these cannot function well without the others. Your organs, especially your heart, need you to work out and keep them active. An active lifestyle ensure your heart is healthy enough to sustain you. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to fitness. Some people chose to go the traditional route, going to the gym, joining an organized sport, etc. While other pick non-traditional exercises like trekking, hiking and dancing. Although many people do not recognize the benefits of these alternative exercises, cardiologists do. In fact, they believe one of these exercises is better than the usual cardio people always go for, which is running: dancing. How Does Dancing Help Your Heart Health? As mentioned above, good exercise and good food are essential for health. If you are at risk for high cholesterol or have high cholesterol, you must take extra precaution for your heart health. While diet changes are often recommended for people with high cholesterol, and exercise is equally crucial. The National Health Services (NHS) advises most adults to aim for around 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of physical activity each week, emphasizing that this doesn't necessarily require strenuous gym workouts, as many enjoyable forms of exercise exist. When choosing an exercise routine, it's essential to consider your personal physical abilities and, importantly, your enjoyment of the activity. Ideally, selecting an activity you find pleasurable will make exercising feel less like a task and more like a positive part of your lifestyle, increasing the likelihood of sticking with it consistently over time. The health service often recommends walking, swimming, and cycling as good starting points for incorporating more physical activity into your routine. Unique benefits of DancingExperts at the Cardiovascular Health Clinic highlight that dancing could be an exceptionally effective and enjoyable way to boost heart health. They explain that the heart, being a muscle, benefits from exercise just like any other muscle in the body. Engaging in just 20-30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily can significantly improve the heart's function and dramatically reduce the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease. So, a simple dance session, whether on a dance floor or in the comfort of your own living room, might be precisely what's needed to improve your heart's well-being. Dancing offers a fun way to break a sweat without the intense exhaustion sometimes associated with gym workouts. According to a 2021 study in the Open Access Government portal dancing could effectively lower cholesterol levels and overall fitness and body composition in postmenopausal women. This study highlighted that a simple intervention like a dance class three times a week helped with their health, self-esteem and self-image issues. According to the Health Clinic, the varied movements involved in dancing, including changes in direction and pace, can burn up to 300 calories every half-hour, which can be more than running, swimming, or cycling at a moderate intensity. Furthermore, the release of dopamine and endorphins during dancing can contribute to improvements in mood, mental clarity, and overall emotional health. Can It Be A Long Term Solution? Beyond its effectiveness as a calorie burner and fitness enhancer, dancing offers significant long-term benefits for individuals managing high cholesterol. Many healthcare professionals advocate for its ability to help manage body weight and reduce the likelihood of cholesterol levels increasing.