The Benefits of Walking: Why It's the Best Exercise for Everyone

I love walking! ❤️ 🚶‍♂️The health benefits of walking are endless, and experts agree by adding walking to your daily routine, you can greatly improve your physical and mental health.

Something as simple as a daily brisk walk can help you live a healthier life.

For example, regular brisk walking can help you:

• Maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat

• Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and type 2 diabetes

• Improve cardiovascular fitness

• Strengthen your bones and muscles

• Improve muscle endurance

• Increase energy levels

• Improve your mood, cognition, memory and sleep

• Improve your balance and coordination

• Strengthen immune system

• Reduce stress and tension

We all know that going out for a walk is good for our physical health, but it doesn’t stop there. Research shows that getting outside in nature has many mental health benefits as well.

Walking has been proven effective in reducing anxiety and depression, and there is further evidence that walking in nature improves those results even further. That’s because different parts of our brain activate in nature. Our mind calms, leading to physical changes including a reduction in heart rate and blood pressure.

But don’t think you have to hike a mountain to feel the results. Spending time outside at a park or any green space can have the same effect. Even if it’s only for a few minutes during a lunch break, getting out in nature can positively impact your mental health.

We should also learn to walk away from arguments that lead to anger 😡 , or walk away from thoughts that steal your happiness. 😊

To get the most benefit out of your daily walk, you can:

• Walk for at least 30 minutes each day

• Aim for 9,800 - 10,000 steps a day

• Take 80 to 112 steps per minute

You can start with five minutes a day the first week, and then increase your time by five minutes each week until you reach at least 30 minutes.