A recent study has proved that sitting works out to be more harmful to your health as compared to smoking. Getting up from your couch and going for a good walk can help solve many of your health problems. This can prevent heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes, memory problems, and a lot more.
All of us have been walking since the time we were only one year old, but here we are talking of ‘walking’ as an exercise. This offers multiple benefits to different age groups and also individuals with different levels of fitness. All you need is determination and a good pair of shoes.
Let us go through the many benefits walking offers. These benefits might tempt you to start walking immediately.
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Lighten your mood:
Staying enclosed in your home is not only claustrophobic but can also lead to depression. The very idea of getting dressed and stepping out of the house can lighten your mood to a large extent. You feel fresh and rejuvenated after a good walk. Besides, walking helps in releasing natural painkillers of the body known as endorphins.
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Improve in the Circulation:
Walking helps in keeping the risk of heart disease at bay. This lowers the blood pressure and also brings up the heart rate. Walk for a minimum of 30 minutes every day for only 5 days a week and mark the difference. Make sure you form a habit of this and not skip it under any circumstances.
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Losing Weight:
Obesity is a major cause of multiple diseases. Not many are aware that obesity, if not controlled, can even be fatal. The best way to go about losing weight is to ensure you have a well-balanced diet that is nutritious and healthy and also a fixed amount of walking every day. A brisk walk of only 30 minutes burns off 200 calories. Why struggle with different exercises and spend for the gym when all you need to do is ensure you go for a walk regularly?
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Improves Sleep:
Curing insomnia can be easy when you start walking and make this your routine. Sleep deprivation is one cause of multiple health problems and can also affect you mentally.
- Boosts Immune Function:
During this COVID-19 era, it is important to adopt anything that ensures good immunity. Walking improves immunity and can lessen the risk of flu-like symptoms.
- Slow Down the Mental Decline:
Studies have proved that mental decline due to ageing was lower for those who walked every day. You can walk around 2.5 miles every day to get this mental benefit.
Plan on a set distance walk each day and monitor how long this takes. Make sure you do not push yourself till you are breathless. Keep a pace in a way so that you can easily talk.
Walk slowly so that you can warm up easily. Start with a leisurely pace and slowly increase the speed. Make sure you dress lightly. This applies to any physical activity.
