Health Benefits of Walking

Weight Loss:

The main benefit of walking is weight loss. Regular walking reduces weight. By walking, calories are burned by which body weight is reduced. So walking is very important for weight control. 

The Brain is Active:

Being inactive means less muscle strength in the body. But more importantly, the brain begins to wither and deteriorate as a result. While walking, the molecules produced in the muscles which help to keep our brain active. Among them, a special molecule helps blood flow to the brain, allowing our brain cells to develop. So for walking, the brain becomes stronger.

Heart Health:

Walking is very beneficial for heart health. Our ancestors, who lived by hunting, walked 15 to 17 miles a day. “Their hearts were really much better than the hearts of people today,” says Neuroscientist Professor Shane O’Mara. In the jungles of South America, there is a tribe called the Simane, where the heart of an 80-year-old man works like the heart of a 50-year-old American. This is because they are active throughout the day.

Aids Digestion:

Walking also acts as a friend to the human digestive system. “When people walk a lot, their food digests more,” says Shane. “Without taking constipation medicine, If you can go for a walk, that would be great. You can easily get rid of digestive problems.” Scientists say being active reduces depression.

Helps in Problem Solving:

It is scientifically proven that walking increases our creativity. This also makes solving many problems easier. “When you want to think about something, taking a short walk instead of sitting can help to solve the problem.” “We can learn from many famous writers, philosophers, and mathematicians how they found solutions to many complex problems while walking.”

An example is the novelist Stephen King. He goes out for walks regularly and walks a lot. Philosopher and writer Bertrand Russell also jotted down many of his thoughts on a small piece of paper when he went out for a walk, later using these to compose great prose.

Helps to Overcome Depression:

According to neuroscientist Shane O’Mara, depression is associated with sitting. “A recent study showed that depression is more common among inactive people. Simply put, the more active you are, the better.”

Blood flow problems are also thought to cause depression. “If you walk a lot, blood flow problems decrease. It decreases dramatically,” he said. In some cases, walking acts as a kind of vaccine, helping to reduce depression. Walking makes the brain more active.

Helps to Be More Open-Minded and Extroverted:

One theory suggests that each of us has a number of personality traits related to being active, such as frankness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, etc.

Experiments have shown that people who are inactive are less open-minded, less extroverted, and have more neurotic problems. On the contrary, if you look at an active person, you will find that these traits are less prominent in them. They do not get sick easily.

Helps in Metabolism:

The food we consume is converted into various forms of energy. Walking helps in this transformation process. Studies have shown that even a small amount of activity throughout the day is more beneficial than going to the gym.

Many people consider going to the gym as a big deal. After spending the whole day lying down, they think that they will be healthy by doing gym exercises for one hour. In fact, such exercise may encourage people to remain inactive. “Because the body then starts saying you’ve done your job, so you can sit down and eat. Then the metabolism actually slows down.”

Helps to Maintain Body Structure:

Many of us have to work all day sitting in a chair, on a sofa, or in a car. This can cause pain in the body, especially the back. “The human body that isn’t built to sit all day in one place. It’s bad for you. Getting out of your chair and taking regular walks can relieve back pain.”