Great for beginners just starting their fitness journey, older adults looking to stay limber, or anyone else looking to receive great health benefits, walking is an excellent choice when it comes to exercise. Walking is one of the most accessible, cost-effective, and beneficial exercises around. Check out these awesome perks to walking for just fifteen minutes or more.
Increase Happiness
Taking a walk is a great way to lift your mood – especially when you go outdoors, according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. During one study, participants who averaged 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 200 minutes of walking every week reported higher energy levels, better emotional health, and a more robust social life when researchers followed up after three years.
Bump Up Metabolism
Everyone knows that metabolism is a key component of weight loss. But, did you know that metabolic syndrome—the evil trifecta of increased blood pressure/cholesterol, high blood sugar, and fat around your waist—is one of the worst side effects of our sedentary lifestyle? Thankfully, daily walking can help you beat metabolic syndrome and rev up your metabolism.
Sleep Better
If you struggle to get a good night’s sleep, start walking. According to the Sleep Foundation, researchers have found that people who exercised regularly, including walking, fell asleep more quickly, slept longer, and had better quality sleep than those who did vigorous exercise or lifted weights. Cardio simply tuckers one out in a way that weight training simply cannot!
Live Longer
That’s right – walking can actually add years to your life if you do it correctly. According to the Mayo Clinic, research has shown that brisk walking can increase your lifespan, more so than those who had a slower pace. This is likely because brisk walking boosts your heart rate more so than leisurely walking, which gets your blood pumping and delivers all kinds of benefits to your body.
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