The Benefits of Walking

What’s simple, fun, and free exercise? Taking a walk!

The beauty of walking as exercise is that it takes no equipment, pricey gym memberships, or trainers and boasts a long list of benefits, including a reduced risk of some diseases and a general improvement in health. Walking is also low risk, easier on the joints than running, and can be done by almost any person of any age.

Here are just a few of the many benefits of walking that are hard to ignore:

  1. Walking outdoors lowers stress, lifts mood, and helps the heart. A recent study showed that walking in pleasant outdoor spaces both lowered stress and improved mood. The study showed that walking in general, not just outside, was helpful in alleviating stress, but that the biggest benefits came from walking outdoors, and that the benefits lasted for at least 30 minutes afterward.
  2. Walking helps you maintain a healthy weight. You don’t have to run for miles or take up Crossfit to lose weight. Physical activity as simple and pleasant as walking can help you burn more calories and maintain a healthy weight. Adding just 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily routine can help you burn close to an added 150 calories per day, which, along with a healthy, reduced-calorie diet, can help you lose and keep off extra pounds.
  3. Walking can improve your blood circulation. Studies show that a walking program helped improve blood flow for those with poor leg circulation. Walking may even help decrease pain from poor circulation by improving oxygen delivery to tissues and decreasing plaque buildup in arteries.
  4. Walking slows mental decline. Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia by as much as 50%. Something as simple as a daily walk can help ward off dementia. Walking several times a week will also help to improve brain function and cognitive performance.
  5. Walking helps you sleep better. We’re all about the daily walk for improved sleep. Why? Because exercise during the day can boost the effect of the sleep hormone, melatonin, at night. Studies show that postmenopausal women who exercised for about three-and-a-half hours a week had an easier time falling asleep than women who exercised less often.
  6. Walking allows you to connect with nature and your thoughts. No screens, no phone calls, no distractions. Walking outside, it’s just you and nature. Take a deep breath, delight in your surroundings, and feel that deeper connection forming between you, nature, and your inner mind. Just note, the faster and farther you walk, the more benefits you shall receive.
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    [post_date] => 2016-07-13 13:26:55
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    [post_content] => What’s simple, fun, and free exercise? Taking a walk!

The beauty of walking as exercise is that it takes no equipment, pricey gym memberships, or trainers and boasts a long list of benefits, including a reduced risk of some diseases and a general improvement in health. Walking is also low risk, easier on the joints than running, and can be done by almost any person of any age.

Here are just a few of the many benefits of walking that are hard to ignore:



    
 	
  1. Walking outdoors lowers stress, lifts mood, and helps the heart. A recent study showed that walking in pleasant outdoor spaces both lowered stress and improved mood. The study showed that walking in general, not just outside, was helpful in alleviating stress, but that the biggest benefits came from walking outdoors, and that the benefits lasted for at least 30 minutes afterward.
    2. 
 	
  2. Walking helps you maintain a healthy weight. You don’t have to run for miles or take up Crossfit to lose weight. Physical activity as simple and pleasant as walking can help you burn more calories and maintain a healthy weight. Adding just 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily routine can help you burn close to an added 150 calories per day, which, along with a healthy, reduced-calorie diet, can help you lose and keep off extra pounds.
    3. 
 	
  3. Walking can improve your blood circulation. Studies show that a walking program helped improve blood flow for those with poor leg circulation. Walking may even help decrease pain from poor circulation by improving oxygen delivery to tissues and decreasing plaque buildup in arteries.
    4. 
 	
  4. Walking slows mental decline. Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of dementia by as much as 50%. Something as simple as a daily walk can help ward off dementia. Walking several times a week will also help to improve brain function and cognitive performance.
    5. 
 	
  5. Walking helps you sleep better. We’re all about the daily walk for improved sleep. Why? Because exercise during the day can boost the effect of the sleep hormone, melatonin, at night. Studies show that postmenopausal women who exercised for about three-and-a-half hours a week had an easier time falling asleep than women who exercised less often.
    6. 
 	
  6. Walking allows you to connect with nature and your thoughts. No screens, no phone calls, no distractions. Walking outside, it’s just you and nature. Take a deep breath, delight in your surroundings, and feel that deeper connection forming between you, nature, and your inner mind. Just note, the faster and farther you walk, the more benefits you shall receive.
    7. 


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