Did you know that 80% of Americans don’t get enough exercise? Maybe that’s because it’s difficult for people to go from being couch potatoes to participating in (and sticking with) high-intensity workouts. However, walking is a low impact exercise that’s relatively easy for most people to do. And you can reap some great health benefits of walking, too.
The U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends that adults get 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) each week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity – basically a brisk walk. But many experts recommend 30 minutes a day of physical activity for optimal health benefits.
The staff at the WalkEZStore recently saw this YouTube video, “Walk for Better Health,” that illustrates some of these benefits.
As the video shows, some benefits of walking 30 minutes every day include:
1. Improved Health and Longevity
Studies show that brisk walking every day can add three to seven years to your life and can reduce your overall death rate by over 20%. Brisk walking can help trigger an anti-aging process and repair old DNA.
2. Reduced Risk of Coronary Disease
In the U.S., heart disease is the No. 1 cause of deaths. However, data shows that walking for 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk by up to 35%. Walking does this by helping to increase your heart rate, strengthen your heart, and increase blood circulation throughout your body, so more oxygen and nutrients get to your organs.
3. Lowered Blood Pressure
A brisk 30-minute walk every day can reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure by up to 29%. By preventing and controlling hypertension, you can also lower your risk of stroke.
4. Increased Bone Density
Walking is a weight-bearing exercise. When you walk, your bones become stronger and denser due to the demands you place on them. Walking helps to stimulate tissue growth and renewal. Studies show that people who exercise can have bones that are up to 10% thicker than the bones of people who rarely exercise.
5. Reduced Cholesterol
Walking can have a direct effect on your cholesterol. Exercise and losing weight can lower total cholesterol by 13.2 milligrams per deciliter and bad cholesterol levels by 10.1 milligrams per deciliter. Additionally, walking can help improve good cholesterol levels by 10% to 16% depending on the intensity level of exercise.
Photo credit: 123RF / lzflzf (modified)
Additional Benefits of Walking 30 Minutes a Day
The above benefits are just some of the advantages of walking. Other benefits of walking include weight loss or healthy weight management, improved mood, better balance and coordination, and the prevention or management of various health conditions, like diabetes, dementia, peripheral artery disease and colon cancer.
As you can see, walking 30 minutes a day really is a great exercise routine that can provide you with many health benefits. And you can do it at any age. Therefore, get up, put on your shoes and get walking!
Walk Easier with ezWalker® Custom Orthotics
Walking is a versatile form of exercise. You don’t need a lot of special equipment or attire to walk – just a good pair of comfortable walking shoes. However, many people don’t know how to fit their shoes correctly. That’s why the WalkEZStore developed our Shoe Fitting Guide to help people size and choose the right shoe for their type of feet, so your shoes fit better. However, if you have any special foot problems that hamper your ability to find the right shoes for your feet, you may want to schedule a consultation with Kathy Carandang, a certified pedorthist. Kathy can help you find and properly fit your shoes for your feet.
Many people don’t exercise because they suffer from foot pain. The WalkEZStore can address help if you have foot pain. Our custom orthotic products, like the ezWalker® Custom Fit Orthotic, can help improve your feet’s function, so you’ll experience little to no pain in your feet, knees, hips and back while you walk. In fact, our custom orthotic solutions have been proven to improve foot function in as little as six months to a year. And with our 90-day, money-back guarantee, you’ve got nothing to lose but your pain.
To learn more about the WalkEZStore, visit our website. To schedule a gait analysis, foot orthotic molding, or shoe fitting consultation with Kathy, click here. You’ll be walking easier in no time.
Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.®
Disclaimer: The information included in this article is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Cover photo credit: iStockPhoto / rachwal81
