Walking daily is one of the best things you can do for your health and wellness. It’s easy to do and doesn’t require much effort, but it has enormous benefits for your body. Here are some reasons why you should start walking every day.
Walking Can Reduce Heart Disease
Walking is good for your heart, and it’s been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. It can also help prevent heart attacks and strokes. Walking has been linked to longer life expectancy and a reduction in overall mortality.
Walking Reduces Blood Pressure
Many studies have shown that physical activity can help lower your blood pressure, and walking is one of the most accessible and enjoyable ways to get started. Walking for 30 minutes daily can decrease your risk of heart disease by up to 30%.
The time you spend walking each day will depend on how much exercise you get and how quickly you want to see results. If you’re new to exercise, start with five minutes daily, then gradually increase it as needed. If you’ve been exercising regularly for a while but aren’t getting enough steps per week (10,000 steps is generally considered the minimum), try adding short walks throughout the day until you reach 10,000 degrees per week—and then work toward increasing this number even further if possible!
Walking Can Reduce the Risk of Heart Failure
Walking is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of heart failure. Heart failure is a common condition that affects millions of people in the United States, and it can lead to death if not treated properly. Heart failure happens when your heart cannot pump blood around your body as well as it should, making you feel tired. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, these conditions may increase your chances of developing heart failure later in life. Walking can help prevent both high blood pressure and diabetes!
Walking regularly has been linked with reduced risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), a collective term for conditions that affect your heart and circulatory system—including hypertension, stroke, and coronary artery disease (CAD).
Walking Can Improve Cholesterol Levels
Walking has improved cholesterol levels in both men and women. Walking can reduce LDL cholesterol levels by 20 percent or more if done at least 30 minutes per day for five days a week for three months (American College of Sports Medicine).
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels are also reduced when exercise such as walking is done regularly over time. HDLs remove excess blood fats from the body, so they don’t accumulate inside artery walls, leading to atherosclerosis or the hardening of arteries, which increases risk factors like a heart attack or stroke (CDC).
Walking Can Reduce the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Walking is a great way to get moving and stay active. By walking for 30 minutes per day, you can help prevent type 2 diabetes by keeping blood sugar levels balanced.
When you walk, your muscles use energy and break down fat molecules, which release glucose into the bloodstream. Your body needs glucose for energy, but if there’s too much of it in your system all at once, especially if your diet hasn’t had enough fiber or other nutrients, some of it will be stored as fat instead of being used as fuel. This can cause spikes in blood sugar levels that lead to high cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke risk factors like obesity or high blood pressure. But when you’re regularly walking 30 minutes daily (15 minutes three times per week), those risks are reduced thanks to improved insulin sensitivity.
Walking Can Reduce Excess Body Weight
Walking is a great way to burn extra calories and lose weight. Walking burns 90-100 calories per mile, which means you can burn between 120 and 140 calories by walking for 30 minutes daily. If you want to lose weight, try walking thrice more than usual for 30 minutes daily. If you do this five days per week and according to your plan, you will quickly lose up to 1 pound per week.
Walking Can Help Manage Pain
Walking is a great way to manage your chronic pain, as it can reduce inflammation and improve circulation in your joints. It’s also inexpensive, so you don’t have to spend much money on treatments or medications. You won’t need to visit your doctor or buy expensive equipment, since all you need is sneakers and some good walking shoes!
Take a Walk Today
Walking is a simple, accessible way to improve your health. It’s good for your heart and helps with weight management. Plus, being outside can make you healthier and happier. Walking doesn’t require any equipment (unless you want it to!), so there are no excuses not to get moving today!
