Many of us don’t consider walking as exercise because it’s a movement we do regularly to get from point A to point B. Regardless of the distance or intensity, walking is still a great and easy way to improve your health.
If you’re into the fitness tracking world, you may have heard that getting 10,000 steps a day is ideal for good health. But in what way? What happens to our health if we continuously get in 10,000 steps a day?
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Regular walking is linked with the reduction of many chronic illnesses including heart disease, stroke, asthma, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers.
Walking can help burn calories, keep the numbers on the scale low, and maintain strong muscles.
Additionally, as with all physical activity, when we walk, we release endorphins that can improve our happiness levels and elevate mood.
Walking can also be a great stress buster and help relieve worry and create mental clarity, which can help you sleep better and reduce blood pressure.
But if 10,000 steps seem daunting, then don’t worry. Studies have shown that 3,000 steps are still enough to trigger health benefits. The real key is to walk more and sit less as a means of improving health. One recent study, in particular, found that walking 10 minutes a day is associated with a reduction in early mortality.
Lastly, when walking, ensure you’re walking at a pace that elevates your heart rate and speeds up your breathing. This pace can help strengthen your glutes, legs, and keep your arteries healthy as your heart will be healthy. With stronger blood pressure, you can promote an overall healthy circulatory system.
Whether you wear a fitness tracker or not, it’s essential that you try to add more steps into your daily life. Regardless if you hit 10,000 or not, simply increasing the number of steps you take a day can go a long way.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
