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