What happens to your body if you walk every day?
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Do you want to do something for your health, but you don't feel like doing intensive training? No problem, just a walk a day can get you in good physical and moral shape.
Walking every day reduces the risk of 24 different diseases, including many types of cancer and all types of cardiovascular disease. But a daily walk around the block or in the park also has a direct impact on your health – physical, mental and emotional.
Even just 180 minutes of exercise a week can help you feel the positive effects.
Live longer by walking every day
Walking daily is associated with a 15 percent lower risk of early death. This is mainly because many diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, can be prevented by strengthening blood vessels and exercising the heart while walking.
Walking strengthens your immune system
The reduction in the risk of many diseases and symptoms is not least related to a stronger immune system. Walking allows you to get plenty of fresh air and sunlight, which counteracts vitamin D deficiency and benefits your immune system.
“Active people have more immune cells and are therefore much more resistant to infections by viruses and bacteria. The so-called forest bathing, movement in forests and parks, stimulates natural killer cells even more and further enhances this effect.”
Walking strengthens the psyche
But walking can benefit more than just your physical fitness. Mental health also improves. Movement stimulates blood circulation throughout the body. This means that more oxygen is transported to the brain.
“Fresh air in any case absorbs more fresh oxygen. The result is improved memory and concentration.”
Walking helps with stress
Thirdly, walking benefits not only the body and mind, but also the soul. You clear your head and can easily distract yourself from everyday worries and stress.
“Walking relaxes muscles and nerves and lowers blood pressure. As a result, stress levels also decrease. Low stress levels, in turn, are beneficial not only for well-being, but also for health in general.”
Fresh air improves mood
In addition to the freedom to indulge in your own thoughts, the increase in well-being also occurs due to the fact that hormones of happiness are released during a walk.
“The good mood that arises after a walk in the park is based on biological facts.”
Daily walking helps you lose weight
The release of the happy hormone serotonin also helps fight food cravings. This is one of the reasons why walking is a good activity if you want to lose weight. In addition, you burn calories almost imperceptibly and without causing a new feeling of hunger during strenuous exercise.
Promotes digestion
A few steps around the block can be useful not only before a meal, but also after. After a meal, you may feel bloated, uncomfortably full, or even tired and fatigued.
Walking not only refreshes the mind, but also activates the abdominal muscles. Walking gently massages the digestive organs and stimulates the secretion of digestive juices.
“It facilitates digestion and helps with painful feelings of fullness.”
Walking can relieve pain
Even deeper pains, such as back or hip pain, muscle tension or stiffness, can be relieved by walking, as it stimulates blood circulation.
Since walking exercises all the muscles and many joints in the body, you strengthen your entire musculoskeletal system and ensure that your joints function.
You can prevent pain when moving, even as you get older. Walking can counteract the loss of muscle mass with age.
“Muscles continue to function as a shield against injuries and chronic pain for a long time.”
Walking makes you look younger
Regular walking will also keep you looking younger for a long time.
“The skin is better supplied with blood, and skin cells are supplied with more oxygen.”
The result is a beautiful and healthy complexion.
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