Let’s go walking on April 3, 2024, to celebrate National Walking Day. Walking is one of the best ways to get in our daily exercise with numerous health benefits.
Research has shown that walking at a moderate pace at least 150 minutes a week can help you:
- Think better, feel better, and sleep better
- Reduce your risk of serious diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several types of cancer
- Improve your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
- Increase your energy and stamina
- Improve your mental and emotional well-being and reduce your risk of depression
- Improve memory and reduce your risk of dementia
- Boost bone strength and reduce your risk of osteoporosis
- Prevent weight gain
With the benefits of walking listed above, why would you not want to start walking every day for your overall health?
The American Heart Association recommends swapping 30 minutes of sitting with movement. Walking is a great way to accomplish this goal. Walking for 30 minutes can be done during breaks at work, parking farther away from an entrance, taking the stairs, walking with family and/or friends, walking the dog, and chatting on the phone as you walk. The daily 30 minutes of walking can be done all at once or in intervals of 10 minutes at a time. This makes reaching your daily walking goal even easier.
Let’s celebrate National Walking Day every day by purposely taking a walk and remembering the health benefits you are receiving while doing so. So, get up and get moving, and walk for your health!
Sources:
American Heart Association: www.heart.org
University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Nebraska Extension. UNL FOOD: https://food.unl.edu/
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