Many people think that in order to stay fit you have to go out for a long run or head to the gym, but this is not the case. Going for daily walks is an activity that will have a lot of benefits for you. You do not even have to go for a long walk, just thirty minutes or so will do. Below I am going to have a look at some of the main reasons why you should walk more.
It Decreases Body Fat
A recent study took a look at commuters who walk or cycle to work and compared them with those who drove or took public transport, and it found that adults who walk or cycle to work each day have a much lower body fat percentage and BMI. If you are the type of person that struggles to shift weight, then adding some walking to your daily routine could help quite a lot.
It Decreases Your Risk of Heart Disease
Active people can still get heart disease but walking regularly can help decrease the chances of that happening. Researchers recently had a look at a group of older Americans, and they found that as these people got older, those that walked more than others, had a much lower rate of cardiovascular disease and were less likely to suffer from a stroke.
It Decreases Blood Pressure
Walking is an activity that can help to decrease your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. This is something that you have probably already heard, but we bet you did not know that going for a brisk walk is something that is just as good as going for a long run. A study took a look at 33,000 runners and 15,000 walkers over a period of six years, and in this time, there was a similar decrease in the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
It Will Help You to Save Money
If you walk while doing your errands, you will not be spending money on gas or on public transport. Furthermore, if you are shopping and you know that you have to walk back with whatever you buy, you will be inclined to buy less. You will buy only what is necessary, so you will also be saving money this way. Furthermore, it will limit the amount of snacks that you can buy, which will also help you to keep that annoying weight off.
It Can Help to Get Rid of Depression
Going outside and taking a walk in nature is something that will improve our mood. If you are feeling a bit down, for whatever reason, go and take a walk in the countryside or the local park (if you live in a city) and I guarantee that your mood will improve. I know that this is not some type of miracle cure for depression, but if you can decrease your stress after a bad day at work while getting some exercise in, it is great.
It Can Increase Your Productivity
While exercising during your working hours might seem a bit counterproductive, it is actually not. Many studies have shown that there is a link between taking a walk and increased focus and mood while at work. Therefore, the next time you are at work and you are finding it really tricky concentrate on what you have to do, head on out for a ten-minute walk. Not only will you be getting some additional steps in for the day (an adult should walk about 10,000 steps a day), but you will be able to get more work done when you return to your desk.
It Can Boost Your Self-Esteem
Research has found that just five minutes of exercising each day can significantly boost a person’s self-esteem levels. Furthermore, low intensity activities such as walking have been shown to have a bigger effect on self-esteem levels when compared to higher intensity activities such as running.
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