Do I need to be walking?
Walking is one of the most basic and accessible types of physical activity shown to improve overall health and wellness. In fact, including walks into your daily regimen can provide a slew of physical and mental health benefits.
The following are the top three ways that walking can benefit your health:
Heart and Lung Health: Walking is an excellent form of aerobic exercise that can improve cardiovascular health through boosting heart rate and blood circulation. On top of cardiovascular benefit, walking has been demonstrated to improve blood pressure, heart disease risk, and stroke risk. It also aids in the improvement of pulmonary function, which can contribute to improved overall cardiovascular health.
Mental Health: Additionally, walking has been demonstrated to have a favorable effect on lowering feelings of anxiety and despair. A leisurely stroll can assist in boosting mood and reducing stress levels due to auditory and optical flow (personally moving forward with sounds, visuals and people all passing by you during a walk). This effect is heightened by unplugging from technology completely. Furthermore, standalone walking has been demonstrated to enhance the release of endorphins, or "feel-good" chemicals in the brain, resulting in improved mood and reduced depression symptoms.
Weight Management: Walking is a low-impact exercise that can help with weight loss by burning calories and increasing overall physical fitness. Regular walks can assist to enhance energy levels, build muscular endurance, promote digestion, and improve overall physical fitness - all of which can support good weight management. Walking can also assist in minimizing stress-related eating and boost the body's ability to burn calories, making it a useful weight-management technique.
In conclusion, walking is a simple and effective technique to improve overall health and fitness. Whether you want to enhance your cardiovascular health, improve your mental health, or support weight loss, including frequent walks into your routine can provide a multitude of physical and mental health benefits.
So, the next time you get the chance, put on your sneakers and go for a walk! Your body will appreciate it.