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The Power of Walking: What does it do for our bodies to help us stay healthy?

The Power of Walking: What does it do for our bodies to help us stay healthy?

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Walking is the one power that no other creature of the animal world, accept the human, has. We are the only beings that are able to move on two feet, without the use of the upper limbs, for a prolonged period of time. It is for a reason that we have been gifted this incredible way of moving, and we should be making the most out of it every single day.

Walking is one of the most natural ways to exercise. We can easily incorporate it into our daily routines. It cannot replace your training sessions, but is an amazing addition to any workout regimen and simply a great way to move your body on a daily basis. Walking is equally beneficial for mental and for physical health.

There are several ways that walking can benefit us. We have listed the top 5 benefits of walking for you below.

– Improves blood circulation: As all types of exercise, walking improves blood circulation. It engages all parts of the body, from head to toe, hence the whole body receives an increased blood supply. It is great for improving metabolism, decreasing insulin resistance, reducing risk of heart disease and arthrosclerosis.

– Light cardio: Walking is a form of cardio; it actually burns around the same number of calories as running does for the same distance (5km of running = 5km of walking). Walking is great for your joints, as it is a low-impact bodyweight exercise and is a perfect way to move for anyone who has issues with joints or other pain/injuries. And, it is easily available to us all.

– Breathing: When you are walking, you are more likely to focus on inhaling and exhaling rhythmically. Breathing to the rhythm of your footsteps is a great way to stabilise your oxygen exchange. Getting fresh air when walking delivers an increased amount of oxygen to your brain, and helps you focus your mind, and make better decisions.

– Clearing the mind: Walking can help refocus the mind and let go of troublesome thoughts. Just walking on its own is a very meditative process and helps let go of unneeded clutter in your head. You can think about important issues at the time, and will often come up with innovative problem solutions and creative ideas.

No matter what age you are, what you do for living or how much you exercise, walking will always be one of the most available, easiest to implement into a routine and most effective ways to get your body moving, increase your blood flow and boost energy expenditure. In addition, walking puts your heart rate into the range for optimal fat burning, so it will be highly beneficial to anyone aiming to lose weight.

There are so many reasons to go out for a walk right now! Go and do it! Next time you are about to take the bus: get off a few stops earlier and walk to your destination. Walk everywhere and as much as you can, and you will maintain optimum health for as long as possible.

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