Our Top 6 Benefits of Walking
Jun 07 , 2021
Tags - Benefits of Walking
Walking benefits people of all ages and fitness levels, and is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health.
What’s great is that you don’t even have to walk for miles to reap the benefits.
Simply 30 minutes a day is enough to increase fitness, strengthen bones and lose body fat.
Furthermore, walking can reduce the risk of developing serious conditions such as diabetes and some cancers.
Unlike other exercises, walking is completely free and it doesn’t require any special equipment.
In addition, it can be done at any time of the day and at your own pace, which is great for people who have not exercised in a while or the elderly.
Here are 6 great benefits of walking.
1. Burn Calories
Whether you’re looking to maintain or lose weight, walking is a great way to help you burn calories.
Of course, how many calories you burn will depend on how fast you walk and the distance you cover.
As a rule of thumb, 100 calories are burned per mile for a person who weighs around 180 pounds.
2. Reduce Risk of Heart Disease
Walking for as little as 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk of heart disease by 19%
Increase this time, and you may reduce this risk even further.
If 30 minutes is too much to begin with, start with 10 minutes - some activity is better than none for your heart’s health.
3. Lower Blood Sugar
Research reveals, walking for 15 minutes 3 times a day (after each meal time), can improve blood sugar levels more than walking for 45 minutes in one trot.
Because, when you do moderate exercise, like walking, your heart beats a little faster, your muscles use more glucose and overall will lower your blood sugar levels.
With this in mind, consider making a post-meal walk as part of your daily routine.
4. Boost Energy
How often do you grab a cup of coffee when you start to feel tired?
Don’t worry - we’re all guilty of this!
Instead of relying on caffeine, going for a walk can be more effective in boosting your energy.
Reason being, walking increases the oxygen flow in your body, as well as cortisol - a hormone that helps elevate energy levels.
So, before you reach for caffeine - go for a walk!
5. Strengthen Immune System
Walking is a great way to strengthen your immune system and reduce the risk of developing a cold or flu.
Evidence suggests, those who walk at a moderate pace for up to 45 minutes a day, had 43% less sick days and fewer respiratory infections.
In addition, if they did catch a cold, their symptoms were not as bad compared to those who did not walk.
As such, try to walk daily and experience this benefit for yourself!
6. Improve Mood
A good walk does wonders for our mental health.
In fact, research shows that walking can have a positive impact on negative mood, as well as boosting self-esteem - those who walk are 30% less likely to be depressed.
And, even without happiness factors like sunshine and social contact - walking alone is a powerful mood lifter.
Closing Thoughts
From these benefits, it’s clear to see why walking is good for our overall health.
Overall, walking can positively affect people of all ages and fitness levels.
And, you could even invest in a fitness tracker to track your daily steps and stay motivated!
To find out more get in touch today.
In the meantime, check our ranges of:
You may also like: