This article was published on: 04/6/17 7:36 AM
Walking, fast or slow, is a wonderful exercise. Long walks help you clear your head, pace your thoughts and calm you down. It quickens your heart beat, circulating more blood and oxygen to your muscles and your organs, including the brain. Experts suggest that brisk walking for 30 minutes at a moderate speed can help you burn 150 to 200 calories. Walk also benefits in the following ways:
Drop the Pressure : Walking helps lower your blood pressure but let’s get a sense of how often and for how long you need to walk for it to really be helpful. Research has proved that taking 10-minute walks every day is an effective way to lower your blood pressure.
Exercise can Boost your Memory: Exercise is good for the brain but walking in specific is good for boosting your memory.
Exercise is good for the brain but walking in specific is good for boosting your memory: Reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by walking regularly. A 30-minute brisk walk every day is helpful in preventing and controlling the high blood pressure that causes strokes and reducing the risk by up to 27 percent.
Walking Lowers Disease Risk: A regular walking habit slashes the risk of type 2 diabetes by around 60 percent, and you’re 20 percent less likely to develop cancer of the colon, breast or womb with an active hobby such as walking.
Walking helps you lose weight: You’ll burn around 75 calories simply by walking at 2mph for 30 minutes. Up your speed to 3mph and it’s 99 calories, while 4mph is 150 calories (equivalent to three Jaffa cakes and a jam doughnut!). Work that short walk into your daily routine and you’ll shed the pounds in no time.
Walking prevents Dementia: Older people who walk six miles or more per week are more likely to avoid brain shrinkage and preserve memory as the years pass. Since dementia affects one in 14 people over 65 and one in six over 80, we reckon that’s a pretty great idea.
Walking tones up legs and bums: Give definition to calves, quads and hamstrings while lifting your gluts (bum muscles) with a good, regular walk. Add hill walking into the mix and it’s even more effective. Pay attention to your posture and you’ll also tone your abs and waist.
Walking boosts vitamin D: We all need to get outside more. Many people in the UK are vitamin D deficient, affecting important things like bone health and our immune systems. Walking is the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors while getting your vitamin D fix.
Curb Stress Eating: Walking is one of the best ways to kick your stress eating habits to the curb. It doesn’t work in isolation though. The ideal way to beat a stress eating disorder it to meditate, get good sleep and walk around 10,000 steps a day. Experts believe that stress eating is more often a symptom of an emotional or psychological problem. Walking releases endorphin into your system and reverses the cholesterol levels in your body, helping you curb stress eating.
