Walking is one of the best activities for your health. Walking can help with weight loss, mental health, and more! Even though it isn't the most exciting form of exercise, it is still great for you! In this post, we discuss five reasons why walking is the perfect way to improve your health!
1. Walking can aid in weight management
Did you know that walking is great for weight loss? Walking for as little as 30 minutes a day can burn anywhere from 150 to 200 calories. Walking is also much more sustainable in the long run than jogging since it is much less taxing on your joints.
2. Walking helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol
Walking lowers the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Walking 10,000 steps a day has been shown to decrease the risk of these two things by as much as 10%. A walking routine is a great way to keep your body healthy and strong.
3. Walking can help decrease the risk of diabetes
Building a walking routine is a great way to start building other healthy habits. It has been shown that walking daily helps prevent diabetes by as much as 24%. If you have already been diagnosed with this diabetes, walking is still beneficial since it helps lower blood sugar levels in people who have Type II diabetes.
Walking shortly after eating a meal can reduce blood sugar levels by as much as 20%. Walking before and after meals can improve insulin sensitivity by as much as 30%.
4. Walking can help improve concentration
Walking can help you to maintain your concentration at school or work because walking increases the blood flow to the brain. It has been found that walking for 20 minutes three times a week can increase cognitive function by as much as 11%. Having trouble getting your creative wheel spinning? Walking has been shown to help improve creativity by as much as 60%.
5. Walking can help improve your mood
Walking outside not only increases exposure to sunlight but also provides a sense of peace that walking indoors doesn't. Walking at a moderate pace for up to 40 minutes daily improves memory and concentration. It also decreases the chance of depression, anxiety, insomnia, anger issues, stress, and impulsivity. Walking also stimulates the release of endorphins, which are chemicals in our brain that make us feel happy. It also improves sleep quality and energy levels!