Walking is the best exercise that anyone can incorporate into their day-to-day life. It offers numerous health benefits to people of any age group and fitness level. It may also help prevent certain diseases and add more years to your life.
Walking is accessible to everyone, free to do, and easy to incorporate into your daily routine—all you need is a pair of shoes.
Read on to learn about some fabulous benefits that walking gives you:
Burns calories: Walking helps you burn a good amount of calories. Burning calories helps you to manage your body weight. The amount of calories burned will depend on several factors such as walking speed, duration, distance and body weight. Walking is the best exercise to kick start your weight loss as it is easy to adopt in day-to-day life.
Elevate your mood: 20-30 minutes of walking help you to improve your mood. Walking helps to fight depression, anxiety and negative mood. It is better to take a walk outdoors in nature to feel more positive.
Tone your legs: Walking can strengthen your leg muscles. Walking on an incline treadmill, in a hilly area, or finding a space with stairs will add extra strength to your lower body muscles.
Strengthens the heart: Walking 30-40 minutes five days a week will reduce the risk of getting cardiovascular diseases. This risk is reduced even more when you increase the duration or speed of walking.
Boosts immune system: Studies say adopting walking in your daily routine will help to improve immunity. Good immunity reduces your risk of developing a cold or the flu.
Eases joint pain: Walking gives lubrication to lower body joints, including knee, hip and ankle joints. In addition to lubrication, it also helps to strengthen the muscles around your joints. This results in reduced joint pain.
Feel energetic: When you feel tired, just put on your shoes and go for a walk. Walking is a more effective energy booster than grabbing a pillow and lying down on the bed. It also improves oxygen flow through the body.
Points to keep in mind for safe walking:
These are the points that you should keep in mind for safe walking:
- Wear shoes designed for walking or running, with good heel cushioning to prevent joint pain.
- Wear loose and comfortable clothes. Walk in the dedicated pedestrian area.
- Drink plenty of water before and after a walk to stay hydrated.
- Warm up your joints before you start walking as it helps to ease joint pain.
- Wear a reflective vest if you walk in the early morning or at night.
Conclusion
Walking is the best exercise that anyone can do irrespective of age and fitness level. It can fulfil the daily recommended exercise. It is best to consider a pedometer to track your steps as it gives motivation to keep going. Always ask your doctor before you start any fitness routine. Have a safe walk!
Also read: Why Do Seniors Need to Exercise?
