5 Reasons to Walk More

What’s not to love about walking? It’s something that most of us do on a daily basis and it automatically adds some physical activity into our daily routine. However, what most of us think of as just a slightly beneficial necessity is actually one of the best things we can do for our health and well-being. (1) Here are five reasons why walking just 40-60 minutes a day is an amazing way to increase your energy levels, improve your health and boost your mood –

1. It can strengthen your heart. Walking regularly has been shown to lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and increase levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. This helps to keep your blood pressure in check and can reduce your risk of heart disease. (1)
2. It can lower the risk of disease. A study in the British Medical Journal showed that walking can decrease our risk of diabetes by 60%. Additionally, taking those extra steps can help prevent asthma. According to Age UK, walking six miles or more per week can help prevent brain shrinkage and preserve memory as we get older. (1)
3. It can help with weight loss and toning your muscles. Walking is one of the body’s most natural movements. It incorporates countless muscle groups and burns calories just like any other form of exercise. You may have to walk longer to burn as many calories as you would while running, but walking since walking is low impact and easy on our joints, many consider it a preferred method of burning those extra calories. Not only does it help you lose weight but it is a great way to naturally increase endurance and muscle tone. (1)
4. It can give you energy. Walking has been shown to increase circulation in our body and increase oxygen levels. Even a short, brisk walk can help restore energy when feeling sluggish or sleepy. (2)
5. It can make you happier. Exercise is well known to release endorphins into our bodies - reducing stress & anxiety and boosting our mood. Additionally, walking allows us to do things we don’t often have time to do – soak up the sun (and that healthy vitamin D!), chat with a friend, and spend time in nature. (3)

Cheers, Suja Juice