Do you want to be less stressed, sleep better, and potentially live longer? Lace-up your sneakers, go for a stroll outside (or on a treadmill). Rinse and repeat 20 minutes a day to get the most out of this incredibly basic kind of workout.
Walking has several mental and physical health advantages, and the greatest thing is that it is free, does not require any specific skills or equipment, and is simple to include into one’s daily routine.
Do you need some extra encouragement to get more steps in during the day? Continue reading to discover some of the top health advantages of walking based on current studies.
It can assist you in maintaining a healthy weight.
Walking burns calories and helps preserve muscular mass, according to Torde. So it seems to reason that it might aid with weight loss. According to one International Journal of Obesity research, those who did 15,000 or more steps per day had a smaller waist circumference and a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who were more sedentary. We understand that walking 15,000 steps is a lot. The typical individual will need roughly 2 hours to reach that figure. Consider spreading out your steps throughout the day to make it happen. Perhaps you go for an hour-long stroll before work and then break it up with shorter walks throughout the day.
It can aid in the management of chronic illnesses.
If your doctor has warned you that you are at a higher risk for chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, try including regular walks into your routine. Researchers discovered that taking frequent walks lowered the risk of these illnesses by 7.7 percent, 7.7 percent, and 12.3 percent, respectively, using data from the National Walkers’ Health Survey. Walking might also assist if you have chronic health problems.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends walking for at least 20 minutes five to seven days a week to maintain good blood pressure and cholesterol levels.