“Walking is for Your Benefit”
Do you consider yourself a healthy person? Can you walk for 10 minutes at a brisk
pace without becoming out of breath? Would you like to lose some weight? If the answer
is yes to any of these questions, then walking is for your health. The many benefits of
walking include weight control, disease prevention, and an overall improved quality
of life.
Walking is a gentle and low impact exercise that can bring you better health. It is one
of your body’s most natural forms of exercise. Brisk walking burns fat. In place of stored
fat, the body develops muscle. Therefore, a walking program rewards one with a leaner body along with higher metabolism. Combined with healthy eating, walking is part of any plan for long-lasting weight control. This is the most effective way to lose weight.
Walking alone produces modest weight loss. However, when combined with a reduced calorie diet, the effects are much more impressive. It is also the ideal way to ensure that the weight stays off. Researchers found that people who exercised regularly and ate a healthy modest calorie diet lost weight and improved fitness regardless of the length or intensity of their workouts. You burn virtually the same number of calories whether you run or walk a mile; you just get there faster if you run. You may need to start at a slower pace if you’re out of shape, but you will build up quickly if you walk regularly.
Walking has so many health benefits. Walking can reduce the risk of many diseases,
from heart attack to stroke. Brisk walking gets your heart pumping and sends oxygen through your whole body. It strengthens the heart and the muscle groups responsible for movement. Regular activity strengthens the heart muscle, lowers blood pressure, increases “good” cholesterol and lowers “bad” cholesterol while enhancing blood flow. This helps your heart function more efficiently. All of these benefits reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease,...