Walking - The Cure-all Exercise

Walking is one of the simplest, easiest and safest exercises for anyone.

- By: Shri K. K. Bajaj

Walking is very beneficial as even 40 minutes of walking daily helps prevent diseases, maintains weight and also improves mental health. Walking becomes pleasurable and serves as a healthy interaction if you go with your family and friends.

Health benefits of walking

• Lowers blood pressure: Regular walk or exercise helps in maintaining blood pressure levels as physical activity strengthens the heart muscles. This helps in pumping blood without exerting much pressure on the arteries.

• Reduces weight: Walking helps in reducing body fat and hence in maintaining weight. Excessive body fat has been associated with increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, bone and joint problems, cancer etc. Brisk walking helps in burning excessive fat thereby reducing this risk. It is one of the easiest exercises for overweight people.

• Reduces blood cholesterol: Brisk walk in conjunction with a low-fat diet helps in reducing heart disease risk by reducing the bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. High LDL levels can cause plaque buildup in the artery walls which is a major cause of heart attacks. Regular exercise and walks also help to increase the good cholesterol (HDL) level.

• Reduces the risk of heart attack: According to a study on 72,000 female nurses, brisk walking for just half an hour a day has been associated with a 30-40 per cent lower risk of heart disease in women.

• Reduces the risk of stroke: Walking reduces the risk of stroke by keeping the blood flowing freely and also keeps the arteries of the brain elastic. According to a Harvard study, a regular regimen of brisk walking for about an hour a day, five days a week, may help to reduce the risk of stroke.