Are you feeling a little sluggish or overweight? Or have you been struggling with other health challenges like hypertension, diabetes, or insomnia? Well, your solution might be as simple as walking for 30 minutes daily.
Certainly, there are plenty of other forms of beneficial physical activity. But if you’re looking for a safer and simpler — yet powerful— exercise you need to look no further than a daily walk.
Consider these benefits of a daily walk:
- You’ll feel better. Taking a brisk walk is an easy and simple way to include regular exercise in your life. This will call into action practically all of the muscles of your body, strengthening the heart and invigorating your lungs. Aside from the exercise itself, walking outside in the fresh air helps enhance your mood through the release of feel-good hormones.
- Helps you achieve a healthy weight. As you increase your physical activity you’ll burn calories and fat. Muscles will be toned, and before long you may notice that your clothes are fitting a little differently.
- Improves quality of sleep. Recent research indicates that exercise decreases complaints for insomnia patients. Physical activity helps to burn off stress hormones. It also strengthens your body and allows you to relax easier at the end of a long day.
- Strengthens your bones. There’s an old saying, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” As you age, your body becomes weaker if you don’t demand more of it. Regular physical activity puts a demand on the bones (and muscles), thus strengthening them. This helps to reduce the risk of fractures and falls.
- Lowers your risk of chronic disease. Regular exercise has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular fitness, blood fat levels, body composition and normalize blood pressure.
- Walking is good for your brain. Physical activity helps with the production of certain chemicals that enhance brain function. This will help you to cope more efficiently with stress, as well as feelings of depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that seniors who walk daily have a 50% decreased risk of developing Alzheimer’s or other kinds of dementia.
- It helps to tone the digestive system. A stroll after a meal (a.k.a. “digestive walk”) is a wonderful way to aid digestion. If you suffer from constipation, walking is also a great way to get those bowels moving.
- Promotes longevity. According to new research, those who walked 6000 to 8000 steps each day had a significantly lower risk of death from all causes. Some researchers believe that a daily walk can add 3 to 7 years to your life.
Walking is a simple, yet powerful, low-impact way to achieve many health benefits. You don’t have to have a monthly membership with a gym or spend money on home equipment. Practically all you need is a decent pair of walking shoes, appropriate clothing, time, and a commitment to be consistent. A multitude of incredible health benefits could be just a daily walk away. So why not start walking today?
Photo by: Md. Imam Hasan