Hippocrates famously declared that “walking is man’s best medicine”. The Greek physician known as ‘the father of medicine’ was way ahead of his time in so many ways. There are a number of benefits of walking daily and this is why you should consider it.

You can gain countless health benefits from a daily walk – and virtually no reason to not make the effort. A study at Cambridge University found 20 minutes a day cuts your risk of premature death by a third.

Walking is an easy, free, low-intensity activity. It’s suitable for all ages, abilities and fitness levels. It needs no mental preparation, gym membership or expensive equipment. All you have to do is get up, put on some shoes and go out to gain the benefits of walking.

The Benefits Of Walking Daily

Healthy Mind

Walking is a natural mood booster. Exercise releases happy chemicals, such as dopamine and endorphins, into our brains.

Being exposed to sunlight and fresh air as you walk will also lift your spirits. Your body produces vitamin D when it’s directly exposed to sunlight. We need vitamin D to absorb calcium and keep our immune systems functioning. Research also shows that vitamin D might play a key role in regulating moods and warding off depression.

A brisk 20-minute walk outside, rather than on a treadmill at the gym is much more beneficial. There is also a direct link between gentle aerobic exercise and cognitive brain function in Dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferer.

General Health & Fitness

It’s very easy to dismiss the benefits of walking as a valuable form of exercise. Walking briskly can help you burn calories, build stamina and make your heart healthier.

Even just a 10-minute brisk daily walk has huge health benefits. Walking boosts fitness, prevents weight gain and improves cardiac health. Its low impact doesn’t put any serious stress or strain on your cardiovascular system, and it’s the perfect way to get your blood pumping.

Walking is also said to help control high blood pressure, which is far more common than people might think. You are also 27% less likely to have a stroke if you have regular moderate exercise such as brisk walking, according to the Stroke Association.

Using a device to measure your exercise could be a great motivator. Mobile Mob have some great reviews on Fitbits.

Some people can consider walking boring, but they don’t have the right approach. You can make it fun by putting on a playlist of your favourite music, or listening to a podcast, before you know it you’ll have walked for ages because you’ve been immersed in the soundtrack to your life. Just make sure to charge your earphones before leaving, and if you have been experiencing any issues with the sound, you can click here to take a look at some troubleshooting solutions that can help you out.

Walking Daily Helps Weight Loss

To lose weight you need to burn more calories than you consume,  this is called being in a calorie deficit.

Walking is a great way to burn calories and is one of the easiest, most accessible forms of exercise to incorporate into daily life. Exercise isn’t always an option for everybody and isn’t always comfortable for everybody. There are supplements that people look toward to help with weight loss, and reviews such as the Bio X4 reviews are often a point of interest for people looking to aid their weight loss through supplements.

To lose weight, you should walk for a minimum of 30 minutes at least three to five days per week. The more walking you do, the more calories you burn and ultimately the more weight you can lose. If you are trying to lose weight you need to consider your food intake, take a look at Synderella Slims for some weight loss advice.

A 30-minute casual half-hour walk is said to burn up to 150 calories. To lose 1 pound of fat you need to burn 3,500 calories. If you walk more frequently or for longer periods of time you are going to lose more weight. This will push you into a calorie deficit each day and you should start to notice a reduction in your body fat.

A fit bit or a pedometer is also a great way to track your steps, but you can equally work it out by the length of time spent walking.

I hope these benefits have made you think about putting on your walking shoes and heading out for a stroll.

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