Did you know that walking is a good exercise, but what’s more, it is one of the easiest and most effective exercises a person can do? You might not think about the fact that while you walk around town, you are actually experiencing the benefits of walking everyday, and you are providing your body with much needed daily exercise to keep yourself in shape and healthy.
When you walk anywhere throughout your day, you are racking up steps that can eventually add up to walking a mile, or more, each day. The benefits of walking are the same as the benefits you get in other forms of exercise. Whether you are running circles around a track field, strolling through a park, or simply trying to get from one place to another, by choosing to walk instead of driving your car, you can achieve the 150 minutes worth of exercise a week that the American Heart Association recommends that all humans get.
In fact, experts now say that by walking around 7,000 steps per week, your body will be in the best shape it can be. Less than 7,000 steps, and you might not be giving yourself the health benefits of walking that this natural activity provides.
How Walking Benefits You
When you walk, you are also performing an exercise that is totally and absolutely free! What’s more, you can walk outdoors, but you can also work indoors on exercise equipment like treadmills. You can make walking extra enjoyable by going on an outing with families and friends.
Another benefit of walking is not only physical, it’s emotional health! It’s often said that by walking a mile each day, you can actually boost your self esteem and personal body image. This is because by walking a mile each day, you are also unlocking the benefits of walking 45 minutes a day, or maybe even 30 minutes: it doesn’t matter precisely how much you walk, but by doing just a bit more than the minimum every day you can focus on what your body can do, rather than what you look like, and you can grow a better connection with and appreciation for you body.
One of the best parts of walking is that it has a low impact on your body and you can actually get just as good quality exercise as when you are doing higher impact and more strenuous activities.
In fact, this is why walking is one of the best exercises for people of any age, but especially for seniors!
Walking—One Of The Best Exercises For Seniors
According to the World Health Organization, also known as WHO, heart attacks and strokes are the most common causes of death across the world. Cardiovascular disease, which causes many heart attacks and strokes, is a threat to people of all ages, but seniors might be especially at risk.
The good news is, there are a number of actions you can take to prevent cardiovascular disease, and walking is one of the easiest and best. Many dieticians and experts say that one of the benefits of walking 30 minutes a day is that it is an incredibly easy way to reduce the risk of a heart attack. And, by upping your pace to a brisk walk, you can gain even more maximum benefits. So, for seniors, it’s important to know that high intensity exercise is not the only way to avoid heart attack and stroke risks. A little walking can take you a long way.
However, something seniors should remember is that it is oftentimes better to walk outdoors through the park or along a scenic road than indoors in the gym. By walking outside, you can avoid loud music and gain the benefits that nature offers us: many believe that walking outdoors can have a positive mood-boosting effect.
Walking can also lower blood sugar, which is an ailment that many peopel will begin to experience more often as they age. After you eat, you can consider taking a short walk outside. This has been proven to reduce the after-meal spike in blood sugar that is very common for seniors to experience. By walking, your body is actually using blood sugar effectively towards your muscles that are being used to move. And, this will make your insulin work better too!
Another benefit walking has for seniors is that it can reduce chronic pain. Many studies have shown the same results: that walking can reduce some pain that is associated with conditions such as arthritis. What’s more, walking can alleviate lower back pain. By walking even for just 30 minutes a day, you will find that this quick and simple exercise strengthens your abdominal and back muscles. When your abdominal and back muscles are stronger, your skeletal system is more supported and less pressure is put on your lower back, which is one of the main causes of lower back pain in seniors.
Another way walking is beneficial for seniors is that it promotes social engagement. Oftentimes, as you get older, you find yourself leaving your house, meeting up with friends, or going out for a night on the town less and less. This isn’t for any particular reason—maybe you have been feeling more tired earlier, and do not have the energy to go out later in the day. Or, since you may be retired, and your friends are still working during the days or live further away, you don’t end up meeting up for lunch as often as you once did.
By incorporating daily walks into your weekly routines, you can bring a walking buddy along for the ride. By doing this, you can merge your daily exercise with your social hour, and feel like you have made yoru day that much better!
Lastly, one of the best reasons why walking can be a game changing aspect of your daily life is because it boosts mental health. A quick daily walk can oftentimes help you feel more positive about life in general. This is because when you walk, your body releases endorphins.
Endorphins are released by your body during any physical activity, and although you might be walking at a slow and steady pace, it’s still a physical activity, so endorphins are still released! Endorphins are chemicals that make you feel a general sense of well-being, and are shown to reduce anxiety. As a senior, you might have a lifetime’s worth of stress, and walking can help to alleviate that.
By Admin –
