Why Walking is Healthy
Healthy Walk…Healthy Life
Are you still in doubt? Well you should not be anymore! Walking is definitely good for the body, reiterating all the doctors have been saying; walking is a good form of exercise. As one doctor implied, it is an activity that is near perfection and the good thing about it? It’s totally free! All you have to invest is your two legs and a good pair of shoes or slippers.
Workers, students, children and adults are encouraged to walk. Among employees, walking is a great way of including a simple exercise in their daily routine. For employers’ part, walking can help cut expenses because it can save parking space for cars.
According to a survey conducted in Britain, 2.6 million people or 10.8% are walking from work. Students and children are persuaded to walk not only for health purposes but to increase their self-confidence and independence.
As defined, healthy walk is a regular brisk walk (more than just a simple stroll) done purposefully to improve one’s health. It can include semi structured or structured walking activities done regularly and as a part of a person’s exercise regime. Walking is more preferred than jogging or running that creates a lot of stress to ankles, hip, knees and joints. To stress it out, walking have numerous benefits for your body like:
A. Walking is good for your health. Numerous studies prove that regular walking can lower blood pressure. It reduces coronary heart diseases, colon cancer, diabetes and body fats and cholesterol (by about 7 lbs. per year). Walking also prevents obesity and control the weight of the body thus reduces the risk of falls. It can also improve the individual’s appetite and helps reduce stress. Overall, walking as an exercise can enhance the mental well being of an individual.
B. Walking can help you stay fit. In general, brisk walking is the best kind of regular walking. Like an aerobic exercise, doing regular brisk walking can give tremendous effects on cardiovascular and respiratory systems of the body. Fitness will still vary on one’s age but generally, a regular 10-minute brisk walking can really increase fitness.
A certain study in Loughbrough University revealed that there are same results of fitness among women who do 30 minute walk for 5 days and those who have 10 minute walk. Adding to that, those who have short walks have decrease their weight more than those engaging in long walks.
C. Walking can extend your life! The Department of Health in the United States noted that regular walking could decrease the mortality rate of both younger and older adults. This is due to a fact that walking can really prevent certain diseases and also the risk of injuries due to unfit body. It has found out that regular walking for 20 to 25 miles can extend your life by approximately 1.5 – 2 minutes.
D. Walking can help in reducing your weight. Weight control can be possible if there is a balance between the calories intake and usage in physical activities. One mile of healthy walking can burn up to 420kL or 100kcal of energy. Walking for two miles per day can further decrease the body’s weight by 1lb. Regular walking can also modify the metabolism of fats so that fats, instead of sugar is burnt up; this can thus help in weight reduction.
E. Walking can help in regaining your health after illness. Nowadays, physicians are advising ill people to engage in gentle walking. It will always be good to consult with your physician about walking because there are times when certain activities (like walking) that can increase heart rate are prohibited.
F. Walking can help you achieve a healthy mind. Walking in a pleasant and people friendly environment with other people can be a way of relaxation. It can even help you gain friends and contacts, that you can meet, interact, talk to and play. It can further prevent anxiety and depression. Walking can also improve your self-esteem and mood.
Walking can really help you whether your purpose is to recover from illness, to stay fit or to improve your health and well-being. Walking is something which you can enjoy doing with your children or other family members. It is an exercise that can be practiced by any individual regardless of gender, age, income bracket and lifestyle. So start walking today and maintain that healthy life you desire!
