Walking for Good Health
In these modern times, people do not walk enough and most of us will rarely hit a couple of thousand steps every day. With the availability of various modes of transport, the longest distance that many individuals will work in a typical workday is from the parking lot to their office desk. But, what you might not know is that walking comes with a myriad of health benefits. In fact, sometimes it can be all you need to shed off those extra pounds.
Walking even for a few minutes at a brisk pace every day comes with many benefits to your overall health such as keeping heart diseases in check. And it is also one of those physical activities with the lowest risk of injury. Perhaps knowing some of the top benefits of walking should convenience you why you need to walk more.
How Much Walking is good For You?
Well, like any other physical activity the amount of walking that is good for you might not be the same as the next person. There are various factors that determine how much walking will be beneficial for you such as your health status and weight. Also, your speed and the inclination will also determine the amount of walking that you need to do.
If you walk at a brisk pace and uphill you will not need to walk a lot to burn enough calories and to boost your metabolism. In most cases, just 30 minutes of brisk walking once a day should be enough for you.
But if you prefer to count steps, the experts will recommend that you walk for at least 10,000 steps every day if you want to remain healthy and about 16,000 steps if you want to lose weight.
Health Benefits of Walking
Like all other physical activity, walking comes with many health benefits. And many experts will recommend walking more if you want to lead a healthier life. These benefits include the following five.
#1 Good for Your Heart Health
Heart diseases are one of the leading causes of death globally and so just walking the golf course if you play golf or walking to the neighborhood store can help to keep these ailments in check. Walking briskly for about 30 minutes speeds up your heart rate which is vital for keeping it in good health. And this helps to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
#2 Boosts your Moods
A mood boost might not look like a health benefit but in fact, it is an important one that can increase your lifespan. Stress, depression and other mental issues can affect your physical health. Walking around and taking in the fresh air in the park, listening to birds and just enjoying nature will boost your moods and keep stress and anxiety in check. Also, walking with a spouse, friend or even a neighbor leads to interactions which makes you feel connected and hence benefiting your mental health. And if you combine this with a soothing foot soak afterward, you will always feel amazing.
#3 Aids in Weight Loss
You do not have to spend the entire day in the gym or run for tens of kilometers because walking briskly can also help you shed some weight. Walking burns a lot of calories, and if you combine it with a good diet plan it can be a good enough for your weight loss program. Also, the best thing about walking is that it will help you burn calories throughout the day even when you are sitting or sleeping.
#4 Improves Blood Circulation
As unbelievable as it might sound, just walking around for a few minutes can improve your blood circulation significantly. And this means that your brain will be getting enough oxygen and blood to help it function well. Also, walking will lower cholesterol level which can clog arteries and hence also reduce the risk of stroke and other chronic ailments.
#5 Strengthening of the Bones
Your bones will become weaker as you age. However, the good news is that you can strengthen them just by taking more steps every day. And what makes walking good for the bones is that it minimizes the loss of bone density, and hence reducing the risk of fractures, injuries, and conditions like osteoporosis.
Conclusion
Even if you do not get time to go to the gym or do not like running, it is still possible to remain in good shape and healthy by walking more. Sparing just 30 minutes every day for walking will help with everything from weight loss to improving your heart health. Also, walking with every opportunity that you get (such as when going to the store instead of driving there) will help you achieve your daily steps goal.
