Walking is one of the most popular and effortless forms of exercise worldwide. It doesn’t require expensive equipment, outfits or even special skills and it provides a wide range of health benefits. Whether you choose an out-of-door solitary path in nature, a busy route on city sidewalks, a treadmill workout, or a few rounds around your office building, walking is a fairly accessible way to stay active.
Walking is a type of cardiovascular physical activity that increases your heart rate. This improves blood inflow and can lower blood pressure. It helps in boosting the energy levels by releasing certain hormones like endorphins and delivering oxygen throughout the body. Brisk walking is considered a moderate-intensity, low-impact drill that does not exert redundant strain on joints (hip, ankles or knees) that are susceptible to injury with advanced-impact exercises.
Health benefits of walking
Basically, you carry your own body weight when you walk. This is known as weight-bearing exercise. Some of the benefits include:
- Improves management of conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness and diabetes
- Increases cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness
- Reduces threat of heart disease and stroke
- Stronger bones and improved balance
- Increases muscle strength and endurance
- Improves sleep
- Reduces body fat
- Strengthens immune system
- Reduces stress and tension
- Increases energy levels
- Improves your mood, cognition, memory and sleep
- It also helps in reining a sweet tooth
Walking for 30 minutes a day or more on most days of the week is a great way to ameliorate or maintain your overall health. If you can’t manage 30 minutes a day, remember even a little is good, but more is better. Walking with others can turn exercise into a pleasurable social occasion. Walking can aid weight loss and provide numerous other health benefits. However, compared with other forms of exercise, many people generally may not view walking as effective for weight loss. So, is it the best form of exercise when it comes to weight loss?
Walking does not provide the same cardiovascular benefits as running, cycling or any other form of exercise does. However, the benefits of walking for 45 minutes to an hour daily far overweigh the negatives. It is a great time for deep thinking, a time for you to let your mind wander and it is a great way to get some exercise daily. Walking does not help to boost your metabolism. Performing moderate exercise on a regular basis increases your metabolism for the entire day. Everyone knows that walking is great exercise and that exercise is important, but utmost of us don’t get the recommended amount of exercise. Walking is good exercise and nearly everyone can do it. It doesn’t take much time and doesn’t require special equipment as well. If you are not really fit, begin walking for about ten minutes and gradually increase to about thirty minutes per day. However, do more, if you can.
The bottom line: If you are walking to improve your health, do not worry about how high to raise your heart rate. However, more vigorous exercise training will probably be more necessary if you are interested in perfecting your cardiovascular fitness in addition to perfecting your health.
