Walking is a gentle, low-impact exercise that can help you achieve a higher level of fitness and health. It is accessible to just about everybody. It's safe, simple and doesn't require practice and the health benefits are many. Here's more about why walking is good for you, and how to get started.

Benefits of walking

Walking, like other exercise, can help you achieve a number of important health benefits. Walking can help you:   

• Lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol)
• Raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol)
• Lower your blood pressure
• Reduce your risk of or manage type 2 diabetes
• Manage your weight
• Improve your mood
• Stay strong and fit
• Improve your libido

All it takes to reap these benefits is a routine of brisk walking. It doesn't get much simpler than that. And you can forget the "no pain, no gain" talk. Research shows that regular, brisk walking can reduce the risk of heart attack by the same amount as more vigorous exercise, such as jogging