14 Walking Benefits.

January 28, 2011 1 comment

Walking Exercise.

Walking for Fitness, as an exercise seems so passive and yet gives walking health benefits that span a number of preventive benefits going to the extent of increasing your life span also. However it will help if you read Where should I walk, Contraindications to Walking, Best Time to walk, and How to Walk. If you are on weight reduction program, you could also read Calories burned Walking, to help you know and calculate your calorie intake and calories burned calculation. However, before starting your walking exercise, do have a talk with your doctor to rule out any Contraindications to Walking you may have. Let us see now, what walking benefits we can derive.

Walking Benefits|Walking for Health.

1) Walking Benefits on Diabetes.

When you walk, your muscles require glucose for energy. The muscles therefore draw glucose from the blood for their requirements. This prevents glucose from building up in the blood. This is the basic principle how walking benefits in diabetes. However, to keep up this benefit, walking has to be an everyday affair, as this walking benefit on diabetes is only for hours or a couple of days at the most.

2) Walking Benefits on Brain.

When you walk regularly, the thinking ability of your brain towards knowledge and awareness improves due to perception and action. In short, it improves the cognitive function of the brain. There is suggestion also that walking has a preventive action on Alzheimer’s disease.

3) Walking Benefits on Heart.

Walking daily for 30 minutes makes your heart stronger as the heart muscles are exercised to pump out more blood to the body due to increased requirement of blood by the body due to walking. Risk of heart diseases and heart attack is significantly reduced in persons who walk regularly. If you have already had a heart attack, walking also forms an important part of a Cardiac rehabilitation program after a heart attack.

4) Walking Benefits on Cholesterol.

Walking significantly reduces LDL, the bad cholesterol and increases HDL, the good cholesterol. Walking thus helps to protect you from the Harmful Effects of Cholesterol.

5) Walking Benefits on Bones.

Over time, say 6 to 9 months of regular walking, there is a more positive stimulation of bone formation, increase in bone density and bone health. Walking significantly reduces risk of osteoporosis. In post menopausal women, walking can be very helpful in this regard and they should compulsorily take up walking as a regular feature.

6) Walking Benefits on Cancer.

Studies conducted have shown that walking prevents colon cancer. In women, walking significantly reduced risk of breast cancer. In a person who already has breast cancer or colon cancer, walking regularly improved the mortality rate. Walking has also found to reduce risk of endometrial cancer by 30% in women. (Endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus).

7) Walking Benefits on Insomnia.

In people with insomnia, walking can be of great help. However, a cooling off period of two hours or so, may be necessary between walking and going to sleep. Walking helps going to sleep, firstly by tiring you and secondly by its action on reducing your mental stress.

Walking Benefits on Metabolism.

In simple language, metabolism is a process by which food you eat is converted into energy, which is required to perform daily functions, including functions like breathing or digestion. Walking increases body requirement of energy which is acquired by increased metabolism. The importance of increased metabolism lies in the fact that

You stay more energized.
More Calories are burnt which in turn helps you to lose unnecessary weight and
Optimum processing of nutrients keeps you healthy.

9) Walking to Lose Weight.

Walking for Weight Loss helps to burn calories as explained above. And burning calories is the basic principle in losing weight.

10) Walking Benefits on Stress and Depression.

A study conducted showed that persons who walked regularly experienced reduced mental stress and depression. During any stress, there is increased secretion of the hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, to fight the stress. Accumulation of these hormones is bad and can give rise to certain diseases including hypertension. As walking increases metabolism, this helps in metabolizing these hormones and reducing their unwanted accumulation. Walking also stimulates secretion of endomorphins, a hormone which increases the threshold to pain of stress.

relieving stress through walking.

11) Walking Benefits on Constipation.

A study conducted, put people with chronic constipation on regular brisk walking exercise. It showed a marked recovery from constipation. This was done without any dietary changes. Walking does stimulate the intestines helping in bowel evacuation.

12) Walking Benefits on Impotence.

A study conducted by the school of medicine in the university of Boston showed remarkable improvements in sexual activity of persons who walked briskly for about 2 miles everyday. This included middle aged men. This is because, walking does increase blood circulation to all parts of the body, including the penis. Secondly, as mentioned above, walking reduces LDL and increases HDL. This prevents atherosclerosis resulting again in improved blood flow. Please note, as explained inErectile Dysfunction|Impotence, penile erection is a direct result of increased blood flow to the penis.

13) Walking Benefits on Pregnancy.

Walking may be the best exercise during all trimesters of pregnancy due to it being passive in nature. Any arduous exercise may not be indicated in pregnancy. Walking will tone up the muscles of the expecting mother and facilitate an easier normal delivery. Walking will also ensure a proper sleep and reduce the stress experienced by a pregnant mother.