What are the Benefits of Walking?
Walking can offer numerous health benefits to people of all ages and fitness levels. It may also help prevent certain diseases and even prolong your life.
Walking is free and can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. All you need to start walking is a sturdy pair of walking shoes.
The benefits of walking are not just physical. It can help you maintain or lose weight, but it also has many benefits.
Here 10 benefits of walking:
- Burns Calories – Your actual calorie burn will depend on several factors, including walking speed, distance covered, terrain, your weight.
2. Strengthens the heart – Improvement in cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure, body weight and body mass index, and endothelial cell health and function.
3. Lowers blood sugar – Taking a short walk after eating may help lower your blood sugar.
4. Eases joint pain – Walking lubricates and strengthens the muscles that support the joints, protecting the joints from further damage.
5. Boosts immune function – Can reduce your risk of developing a cold, the flu, or other illnesses.
6. Boosts energy – Walking increases oxygen flow through the body. it can also increase levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine, hormones involved in regulating the central nervous system.
7. Improves mood – Studies show it can help reduce anxiety, depression, negative mood, boost self-esteem, and reduce symptoms of social withdrawal.
8. Lengthens life span – Studies show that walking at a faster pace could extend your life, and found that fast walkers had a lower hospitalization rate.
9. Tones legs – Walking in a hilly area, on a treadmill with an incline, or routes with stairs will strengthen and tone your legs.
10. Inspires creative thinking – Walking (particularly outdoors) may help clear your mind and encourage creative thinking.