7 Important Health Benefits Of Walking

Being one of the easiest cardio or aerobic exercise, walking can be a great activity for everyone. Did you know that the simplest form of physical activity you have been doing since you were one year old, can be a real lifesaver?

Here is a list of some amazing benefits of such a healthy exercise:

1. Walking Helps Reduce Chronic Health Conditions- Regular walking can help reduce your risk of chronic diseases. It can improve your heart health and also reduce your risks of developing cardiovascular diseases. Studies report that individuals who walked a minimum of four hours every week had a lesser cardiovascular disease risk.

2. Promotes Weight loss- Needless to say, regularly doing any form of exercise can aid weight loss. But more precisely, the researchers at Harvard have discovered that among people who walked regularly, the obesity-promoting genes were 50% less effective.

3. Regulates Blood Pressure- Walking can help lower your blood pressure levels. Japanese researchers have reported a significant drop in blood pressure and higher stamina among individuals who walked 10000 steps daily for about three months.

4. Strengthens your Bones- You can reverse the weakness of your bones that happens with age. Walking is an effective low-impact exercise that can prevent any loss of bone density and reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis, fractures and bone injuries.

5. Improves Immune Function- When you walk during the cold and flu season, it can help protect your immunity. A study has reported that individuals who walked a minimum of twenty minutes daily, at least 5 times a week had 43% fewer sick days when compared to the others who exercised lesser.

6. Reduces Cancer Risk- Although any kind of regular physical activity blunts breast cancer risk, one study has proved that women who walked regularly had a 14% lower risk of breast cancer than those who walked lesser. This protection was possible even among overweight women or those who used hormonal supplements.

7. Helps Ease Joint Pain- Walking can aid in the reduction of arthritis-related pain. Regular walk of five to six miles per week can even prevent arthritis in the first place. Regular walking protects your joints and provides lubrication to strengthen the supporting muscles.