Brisk walking — you can think of it as a cross between walking and running. It’s perfect for you if you find walking too boring and running too tiring.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, brisk walking is walking at a pace of over 3 miles an hour — that’s equivalent to 20 minutes a mile.
One of the nicest things about brisk walking is that there’s no need for you to get an expensive gym subscription or exercise equipment just for you to be able to engage in it for not less than 20 minutes on most days of the week.
What’s more, brisk walking offers you the following benefits:
It Helps Fend Off Osteoporosis
Experts agree that brisk walking is one of the most effective exercises for lowering your risk of one day suffering from osteoporosis — a disease that’s characterized by the thinning and weakening of the bones.
Although everyone may wind up with osteoporosis one day, women are more susceptible to developing it. This is true most especially after menopause as a result of hormonal imbalance.
It Helps Alleviate Lower Back Pain
Rather than pop a painkilling drug in your mouth each time in order to deal with lower back pain, it is a much better idea for you to brisk walk instead.
Having lower back pain can make lying in bed all day long enticing, but this is not a good idea.
Leading a fairly active lifestyle is actually highly recommended for anyone who is being bugged by lower back pain as it helps keep the affected area from winding up stiff, plus it increases hormones that help reduce pain perception.
It Helps Burn Excess Calories
Those who wish to slim down may count on brisk walking on a regular basis in order for them to eliminate unnecessary calories and thus get rid of excess body pounds.
Fitness authorities confirm that brisk walking allows for the burning of up to 200 calories in half an hour.
It Helps Keep Infections at Bay
Everyone knows for a fact that loading up on vitamin C-rich foods is an excellent way to have the immune system boosted. Not a lot of people are aware of the fact that exercising regularly can also optimize one’s immunity.
Brisk walking, for instance, is known to help improve synthesis of immune cells.
Engaging in brisk walking under the sun allows the body to obtain vitamin D, a nutrient that helps boost the immune system. Vitamin D is also good for the bones and mood.
It Helps Lower Stress
Individuals who are leading very stressful lives and do not have the time to hit the gym or meditate may simply engage in brisk walking as it’s an excellent stress-busting activity.
The stress-lowering perks of brisk walking can be enhanced by music listening or while exploring nature.
It Helps Lower Heart Disease Risk
Brisk walking on a regular basis can help in lowering the blood pressure and also bad cholesterol levels.
High blood pressure and increased bad cholesterol levels are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is a very serious medical condition as it can increase your risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke.
Health authorities say that brisk walking is best paired with a healthy lifestyle and diet for best results.
Got family members and friends who are planning on getting in shape? Make sure that you repost this article before you go so that they, too, may be able to learn about the above-mentioned benefits of brisk walking.
WARNING: Refrain from engaging in a regular exercise regimen without first consulting your doctor. This is most especially true if you have a known medical condition or been leading a sedentary lifestyle for some time now.
