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Over the last several years, researchers have slowly but surely reached the consensus that high intensity interval training (HIIT), which is characterized by relatively short bursts of intense exercise followed by periods of rest, far outperforms conventional aerobic endurance type exercises.

Not only does it beat conventional cardio as the most effective and efficient form of exercise, it also provides health benefits you simply cannot get from regular aerobics, such as a tremendous boost in human growth hormone (HGH), aka the “fitness hormone.”

Perhaps best of all, HIIT requires only
minutes, compared to hours, each week. In the featured video, Dr. Michael Mosley, author of
Fast Exercise: The Simple Secret of High-Intensity Training, shares his own experiences with HIIT.

The Truth About Exercise

As Dr. Mosley reports in the featured BBC special, groundbreaking research suggests that as little as
three minutes of high intensity training per week can produce significant health benefits.

Dr. Mosley was able to improve his insulin sensitivity by 24 percent by putting in a mere 12 minutes of intense exercise per week, for four weeks. Such an effect is truly amazing, and indeed important, as improving and maintaining good insulin sensitivity is perhaps one of
the most important aspects of optimal health.

He performed the exercises on a stationary bike. After warming up, he cycled “all-out” for 20 seconds, rested for a couple of minutes, and then gave it his all for another 20 seconds.