The one exercise which anyone can do is walking. Rather it should be the way of life for everyone because nature expects humans to keep walking as much as possible. However, with table and desk jobs becoming a priority and domestic appliances and technologies now running and controlling life, many people have even stopped walking for a few miles a day.
Most of their life is spent from bed to chair, chair to car, car to the desk, and back to the bed or couch. A few steps in between are all that usually people walk daily. That is the reason why lifestyle diseases are on the rise.
However, you can avoid, delay, and even reverse lifestyle diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid simply by walking more steps daily.
Benefits of walking daily
You do not need to do something extra, enroll in a gym, or buy equipment to start this exercise. Just think of it and do it, it’s that easy. However, the wonderful thing about walking is that it helps you lose weight without causing any injury to your joints, muscles, or knees.
It improves blood pressure regulation and blood sugar levels, eases depression, lowers bad cholesterol, and reduces overall fat content in the body.
How many steps should you walk daily?
General studies show that walking 10,000 steps helps improve cardiovascular health and also reduces the risk of cancer and dementia. Nowadays, most of the fitness enthusiasts try to achieve this target and many even plan to reach a target of 12,000 to 15,000 steps every day.
But, if you are a beginner, then walking 3,800 steps daily is enough to lower the risk of cognitive decline by around 25%. If you are obese or overweight, you must start with less number of steps or else it may affect your muscles and joints.
Another study says that those who walk at least 7,000 steps each day have a lower risk of early death. The important thing is to start walking daily starting from 2000 steps and slowly increasing your steps to 10,000.
Importantly, if you do other exercises like heavy workouts, jogging, or aerobic exercises then the benefits are already covered and you may not need to count your steps.
Disclaimer: This piece of article is for basic information purposes only. It's always advisable to consult a doctor for any type of health issue.