We can determine the actual calorie burn through a calorie calculator. However, it may be an easier physical activity to maintain over time.
Strengthens the heart
Walking for at least thirty minutes a day, five days a week can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by about 19 percent. And the risk can be further reduced when we increase the duration or distance we walk each day.
Walking fast promotes the pumping of the heart and can strengthen it just like any other sport. Even if we can’t go at a fast pace, taking a leisurely walk helps keep the heart muscle active.
Lowers blood sugar level
Taking a short walk after eating can help lower your blood sugar level. One small study found that walking 15 minutes three times a day (after breakfast, lunch, and dinner) improved blood sugar levels more than walking 45 minutes at any other time of day.
However, more research is needed to confirm these findings. We can think of taking a walk after meals as a regular part of the routine. It can also help us exercise throughout the day.
no material needed
Running is a higher impact activity that requires special footwear (not to mention a sports bra for many people), sports clothing, etc. Walking requires a supportive pair of shoes, but not much else.
If we prefer, we can turn the drive home into exercise, or take a short walk for lunch or a coffee break. If not, we can simply go for a walk without any sports accessories in tow.
relieves joint pain
Walking can help protect your joints, including your knees and hips. That’s because it helps lubricate and strengthen the muscles that support your joints.
Walking can also provide benefits for people living with arthritis, such as pain reduction. And walking 5 to 6 miles a week can also help prevent arthritis.
Boosts immune function
Walking can reduce the risk of developing a cold or flu. One study followed adults during the flu season. Those who walked at a moderate pace for 30 to 45 minutes a day had 43 percent fewer sick days and fewer upper respiratory tract infections overall.
Symptoms also subsided if they got sick. That was compared to adults in the study who were sedentary. We will try to take a daily walk to experience these benefits. If we live in a cold or rainy area, we can try walking on a treadmill or around an indoor mall.
Increase energy
Going for a walk when we’re tired can be a more effective energy boost than having a cup of coffee. Walking increases the flow of oxygen through the body. We can also increase cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels. Those are the hormones that help raise energy levels.
Improves mood
Walking can help mental health. Some studies show that it can help reduce anxiety, depression, and negative mood. It can also boost self-esteem and reduce symptoms of social isolation.
To experience these benefits, we’ll try to do 30 minutes of brisk walking or other moderate-intensity exercise three days a week. We can also break it down into three 10-minute walks.
lengthen life
Walking at a faster pace could prolong life. The researchers found that walking at an average pace compared to a slow pace resulted in a 20 percent lower risk of death overall.
But brisk or brisk walking (at least 6 kilometers per hour) reduced the risk by 24 percent. The study looked at the association of walking at a faster pace with factors such as overall causes of death, cardiovascular disease and death from cancer.
tones the legs
Walking can strengthen the leg muscles. To build more strength, we will walk in a hilly area or on an incline treadmill. Or we will find routes with stairs.
We’ll also swap walking with other cross-training activities like biking or jogging. We can even perform resistance exercises like squats, lunges, and leg curls to further tone and strengthen the leg muscles.
enhance creativity
Walking can help clear the mind and help us think creatively. One study that included four experiments compared people trying to think of new ideas while walking or sitting. The researchers found that the participants did better while walking, particularly when walking outdoors.
The researchers concluded that walking opens up a free flow of ideas and is an easy way to increase creativity and be physically active at the same time.
Tips
If we want to burn more calories and build strength while walking, we’ll integrate some of these recommendations into walking workouts:
- walk on slopes We can find a hilly area to walk or use an incline treadmill. Walking uphill will also help build muscle.
- Do intervals. We can add short bursts of jogging or running or walking strides.
- Bring a pair of trekking or walking sticks for the next hike. We’ll burn more calories and get our heart rate up while working our core and upper body muscles.
- We will add a weighted vest (instead of ankle or hand weights). The additional weight of the vest will increase the strength and cardio benefits, while keeping us safe from imbalances.
On the other hand, to guarantee our safety when walking, we can follow these tips:
- We will walk in designated pedestrian zones. We will look for well-lit areas if possible.
- If we walk in the evening or early in the morning, we will use a reflective vest or a light so that cars can see us.
- We will wear sturdy shoes with good heel and arch support.
- We will wear loose and comfortable clothing.
- We will drink plenty of water before and after the hike to stay hydrated.
- We will use sunscreen to avoid sunburn, even on cloudy days.