Walking might be a low-intensity exercise but there are many health benefits it can offer the body. Not only does it benefit you physically but it can boost your mental wellbeing as well. Moreover, it is free, requires little effort, and can be included as part of your daily routine.
Below are some reasons why you should make walking a daily habit.
Improves Eyesight
Surprisingly, moving your legs can benefit your eyes a great deal. Walking helps the eyes by relieving pressure, hence preventing glaucoma, a disease that occurs as a result of the buildup of fluid in the eye. This fluid puts pressure on the eye and affects the optic nerve resulting in visual impairment.Â
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Research suggests that walking can reduce the risk of developing glaucoma and relieve its symptoms. Even a low-intensity exercise like walking can help to strengthen and stimulate the visual cortex, the part of the brain that processes the images our eyes relay to it. If you want to improve your vision or prevent potential eyesight problems in the future, then start cultivating a daily habit of walking.
Prevent Heart Disease
It’s no longer a secret that running strengthens your heart. But what’s more interesting is that walking is just as effective as running in the prevention of heart disease and stroke. Walking for 30 minutes every day can help lower high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, hence preventing health problems like coronary heart disease.
Tone Your Muscles
A simple exercise such as walking can actually help you achieve weight loss and tone your muscles. Interestingly, taking just 10,000 steps a day can be just as effective as a standard workout at the gym, especially if you engage in some uphill walking. However, it is important to maintain good posture when engaging in this kind of walk.
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Improve Your Mood
Walking can have a significant impact on your mental health. Studies show that walking for about half an hour a day can improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and overall negative mood. To enjoy these benefits, aim for 30 minutes of daily brisk walks for three to five days a week.
Increase Longevity
Engaging in brisk walking could extend your life. A study found that walking at an average pace instead of a slow pace can reduce your risk of overall death by 20 percent. However, walking at a fast pace ( 4 miles per hour) cut down the risk by 24 percent. The study linked a faster walking pace to the prevention of overall causes of death, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
Sources:
healthline
prevention.com
Featured image source: Openfit
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