Walking is not just for fitness buffs and health-seekers. It can actually provide many surprising benefits. If you've been searching for some surprising benefits of walking, these 7 reasons can help to get you thinking about walking more often and walking for longer periods of time.
1. Burn Fat
Walking is a great way to lose weight, and burn fat in an easy way. If you walk for 30 minutes it burns about 100 calories, according to the CDC. It can improve your body composition, making you leaner and fitter right off the bat.
Furthermore, walking is an efficient way to burn fat because it allows you to exercise at a lower intensity level than running or other aerobic activities. This makes it easier to stay motivated over time.
2. Lower Blood Pressure
Walking reduces your risk of high blood pressure, which can be a major health concern as you get older. One study found that walking 30 minutes five days per week reduced blood pressure by as much as 6 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) compared to those who did not walk.
It helps reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure, which is often caused by stress, poor diet, tobacco use, lack of activity, and other factors. Research shows that walking for 30 minutes a day can help lower blood pressure by up to 5 points.
3. Reduce Blood Sugar
Walking is a great way to reduce your blood sugar. It burns a lot of calories, and the more you walk, the more you'll see the benefits.
It helps control your blood sugar by making it more efficient. When you're expending energy, your body releases a hormone called insulin that signals your cells to take up glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream.
The less glucose in your bloodstream, the less insulin is produced, which results in lower levels of glucose in your bloodstream. This means that less insulin is needed to keep your blood sugar stable.
In addition to helping manage your diabetes, it also helps prevent other health problems such as heart disease and osteoporosis.
4. Boost Immunity
Walking is a great exercise for boosting immunity. A study by the University of North Carolina found that walking for 60 minutes, three times per week resulted in higher levels of antibodies and T cells in the body.
The study also found that people who walked for at least 30 minutes had higher levels of these immune-boosting substances than those who didn't.
It is a great way to boost metabolism, especially if you're trying to lose weight or maintain your current one. A study done by the University of Copenhagen showed that if you walk for 45 minutes a day can increase your metabolic rate by 20 percent, which means you'll burn more calories than usual when doing other activities like going shopping or watching TV.
5. Improve Mood
Walking is known to improve mood. A study in the British Journal of Health Psychology found that those who walked at least 3 miles per week had significantly lower levels of depression than those who didn't walk.
It may also reduce anxiety and stress. According to a study published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, people who walked around 2 miles per day experienced significant decreases in their symptoms of stress and anxiety compared to those who didn't walk.
It has been shown to improve self-confidence, which can lead to an improved sense of well-being and function at work or school. A study published in the Journal of Occupational Therapy Research found that walking can be an effective treatment for depression, anxiety, and stress among adults with disabilities, as well as older adults with mobility challenges.
6. Help Control Weight
Walking is more than just a great way to get your daily exercise. If you walk it can help you to lose weight and improve your health condition.
It is a good way to control weight because it helps you burn calories while you're walking. By burning calories, you'll burn fat, which makes you lose weight. If you want to lose weight, it is one of the best exercises that you can do in order to achieve this goal.
7. Lower Cholesterol Levels
Walking is a great way to lower cholesterol levels and increase your HDL (good) cholesterol. Researchers at the University of Montreal studied 34 middle-aged men and women over a six-month period. Half the group was asked to walk 15 minutes every day while the other half was asked to do nothing. After four months, those who walked had significantly lowered their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, with no change in HDL.
The researchers also found that it improved blood sugar control in diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes. It at a pace that's comfortable for you helps you burn more calories and lose weight as well; it's also easier on your joints than jogging or running.
Walking has been shown to improve heart health by lowering blood pressure and triglycerides, increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels, improving overall cardiovascular fitness, and reducing inflammation in arteries throughout the body.
Conclusion
Walking is an easy way to get in shape, but there are many other benefits of it that you may not have considered.
It can also reduce stress levels. Studies show that walking reduces stress hormones like cortisol, which can help relieve depression and anxiety symptoms as well as reduce inflammation related to age-related chronic disease. Walking also releases endorphins, which help improve concentration, mood, and sleep quality.
If you're looking for an excuse to walk or exercise more, maybe these 7 benefits of walking can help. While the fitness benefits are certainly a good enough reason to get you started, these other benefits are what will keep you moving!
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