Morning Workouts: A Key to Reducing Heart Disease Risk?

While the best time to work out is whenever you can do it consistently, emerging research suggests that morning exercise might offer extra benefits beyond jumpstarting your day.

A recent study indicates that morning workouts could significantly lower your risk of stroke and coronary heart disease compared to exercising later in the day. The study analyzed data from over 86,000 participants, examining various times of day for physical activity. The findings revealed that those most active between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.—the "late morning"—experienced the lowest risks for both heart disease and stroke.

Specifically, individuals who exercised in the early or late morning had 11 percent and 16 percent lower risks of coronary artery disease, respectively. Those most active in the late morning also enjoyed a 17 percent decreased risk of stroke.

Importantly, the benefits of morning exercise were observed regardless of the total amount of physical activity performed throughout the day. This suggests that morning workouts offer unique heart-protective advantages.

However, it’s important to remember that you’ll gain health benefits from exercise no matter when you do it. So, if your current routine works for you, there's no need to make drastic changes. But if you have flexibility in your schedule, consider giving morning workouts a try for an added boost to your heart health.