A daily walk is a proven routine to combat aging and repair your DNA. On average, researchers agree that a walk every day can add up to seven years to your lifespan. This conclusion was reached after research was presented to the European Society of Cardiology Congress.
It’s clear that walking is good for you. A brisk 20-minute walk is recommended each day. This should be in addition to your existing exercise program. Keep track of how many steps you walk each day with a pedometer or app on your smartphone.
So, what are the exact benefits of walking?
1. It’s good for your heart
The cardio workout you give your body when you take a brisk walk gets your heart rate up. It improves your blood pressure too. The heart needs to pump at a regular optimal rate in order to stay healthy. When you spend too much time sitting and not enough time walking, your heart isn’t getting the workout it needs and becomes susceptible to coronary disease. Giving your heart rate a boost with a daily walk will keep it in shape.
2. It’s good for your mental well-being
A daily brisk walk is an opportunity for you to escape the stresses and distractions of the day and clear your mind. Some people find walking beneficial because they zone out and focus only on their body. For others, it gives them an opportunity to sort through the day’s events and prepare for the following day. Either way, a brisk walk destresses the body and mind.
3. It’s good exposure to the sun
Most of the body’s vitamin D comes from sunlight. The body synthesizes some of its own, and there is little in other food sources. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption. It is known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ and creates an overall sense of well-being in the body. That is why getting outside into the sunlight is a good idea. What better way to get your quota of sunshine than by combining it with a brisk walk?
4. It can stimulate weight loss
The energy burned up by your body during a brisk walk will exceed the carbohydrate intake you have consumed. As a result, the body starts burning fat in order to keep the muscles working.
A low-carbohydrate diet combined with a daily walk is a sure way to burn extra fat in the body, which will cause you to lose weight. Working your muscles by walking briskly will strengthen and tone them as well. Gradually, you’ll see your skin firm up as well. So, walking is the stimulus for a weight loss transformation.
5. It promotes good sleep
The physical exertion of walking will make your body want to sleep more deeply at night. This is the time during which the muscles recover from the exercise you have done. Even an overactive brain won’t be able to compete with a tired body, so walking is a great idea if you have insomnia.
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