A 30-minute walk daily is probably the easiest exercise to do. Fortunately, it provides countless benefits for both physical and mental health. It is accessible for anyone and it doesn’t require any equipment.
Doctors keep telling their patients to walk on a regular basis to prevent disease development. It has been scientifically shown that walking lowers the risk of developing heart problems by 31%. And, according to Harvard Health, it lowers the risk of death by 32%.
Science Explains 10 Things That Happen To Your Body When You Walk Every Day
- Improves heart health
Walking is the best exercise to prevent cardiovascular disease. According to the journal Current Opinion Cardiology, waking lowers blood pressure levels, improves lipid profile, lowers the chances of encountering coronary episodes, increases heart rate and strengthens the heart muscles, and brings long-term benefits to cardiovascular health.
- The brain gets a positive boost
A study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that women who walked for at least 200 minutes weekly felt emotionally better. Researchers tracked these women and their improvements for 3 years and found that while walking made their body healthier, it provided a positive boost to the brain too.
- Your lung capacity strengthens
Walking stimulates the lungs to function properly as you inhale oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Some of the benefits include proper use of oxygen, increased circulation, and strengthened lung capacity on the amount of air that the lungs can take in.
- Your eyesight improves
One of the methods to maintain eye health is by walking. Researchers claim that regular walks reduce the risk of developing glaucoma by 73%. You can change the flow of blood around the eyes every time you walk, which lower the risk of having blood vessels burst and causing damage to the eyes.
- Your digestion improves
According to a team of German researchers, walking may accelerate how food travels in the stomach to help with digestion. So, following a heavy meal, opt for rest for 20 minutes and then a walk around
- Your pancreas becomes more efficient
Pancreas is needed for the digestive system as it provides enzymes and hormones which break down the food you consume.
According to the journal Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity, low-intensity walks increase the efficiency of the pancreas, so body’s metabolism and insulin production improve.
- Your blood sugar levels off
When you walk for twenty minutes after a heavy meal, you help the body level off its blood sugar levels. According to a study in Diabetes Care, taking short walks a couple minutes after eating your last
- You strengthen your bones and joints
According to the National Institutes of Health, weight-bearing exercises like walking force the bones and joints to move against gravity, which in turn helps you build stronger bones and joints. When the bones and joints are stronger, you lower your risks of fractures, immobility, and bone mass loss which normally happen when you age.
- You will tone your muscles
Walking directly affects the leg muscles, but it doesn’t cause muscle soreness as it isn’t an intense activity. As you gradually increase the intensity of your walks, you may also take different routes and integrate more intervals.
- You experience relief from lower back pain
If you are suffering from lower back pain, it is not recommended to run or do high-impact exercises. But, regular walking is a whole other thing. It helps improve blood circulation, particularly around the spinal structure, which relieves lower back pain.