Don't Exercise Before Sunrise
Don't Exercise Before Sunrise
2003-08-08
Many citizens have the habit of morning exercise, but some believe earlier exercise means fresher air and better results, especially in parks or forests, which they consider free oxygen bars. In reality, exercising before sunrise is one of the common misconceptions about early morning workouts—instead of yielding expected benefits, it may harm your health.
Peak Pollutant Concentration Before Sunrise
Many middle-aged and elderly people prefer to exercise before dawn or sunrise, assuming the environment is quieter and air cleaner than during busy hours. However, this is untrue. At night, air near the ground cools and forms a stable inversion layer, preventing pollutants from dispersing. By sunrise, pollutant concentration reaches its peak. Additionally, before sunrise, plants cannot perform photosynthesis and instead release carbon dioxide, which reaches its highest daily levels. Exercising during this time means inhaling high levels of CO₂ and pollutants, leading to dizziness, fatigue, and minimal exercise benefits.
Therefore, doctors advise choosing to exercise after sunrise, preferably between 6:00 and 9:00 AM. At this time, the inversion layer breaks down, pollutants disperse outward, and sunlight prompts plants in parks to begin releasing oxygen.