What are the benefits of walking? How does it help us stay healthy, and why we should exercises every day. Walking is one of the healthiest exercises, but many people tend to underrate it, as it is seen as not ‘vigorous’ enough. Walking offers a wealth of benefits, and it is one of the easiest way to maintain your overall health.
Let’s look closer:
Improve Circulation
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- Walking helps blood pressure regulation as well as playing part in strengthening your heart, making it a great tool for warding off coronary heart disease.
Burn Calories
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- Burning calories maintains your weight – 30 minutes of walking burns 180-230 calories (depending on weight, speed, terrain, distance).
Mood Improvement
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- Mental health is important. Walking reduces depression and anxiety, which in turn boosts your mood. It makes the perfect combination of mental and physical development.
Increase Muscle Strength
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- Walking helps building up stamina and tones up your muscles, and more particularly your legs and abdominal area. It also builds up your joints, by strengthening the muscles supporting the joints and hips.
Improve sleep
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- Pain and stress are often associated with sleeping problems. Walking can help with that, as it calms the body and nourishes the soul. Furthermore, regular walks can help maintain your sleep, by relieving insomnia and boosting the effects of melatonin (sleeping hormone).
Boost Creativity
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- Walking is a great tool for enhancing creativity. It can help clear your head and allow flow of thoughts, which in turn creates clarity and creativity.
The benefits of a single walk are enormous, but to be contributed towards your overall health, walking should be done on a regular basis.
Governmental recommendations:
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150 minutes per week
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – National public health institute in the United States (?) -
30 minutes per day
Department of Health & Human Services – State Government of Victoria, Australia (?) -
150 minutes per week
National Health Service (NHS) – Health care systems of the United Kingdom (?)
