Walking is a great form of exercise. Walking is a great way to get your body moving and clear the mind. Walking is recommended by the American Diabetes Association to maintain good health and lower blood sugar levels.
Regular walking lowers the risk of diabetes. According to some research, for every 1,000 steps taken daily, a person’s systolic pressure drops by.45!
A second study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that women who walk enough to meet their daily physical activity requirements had a lower risk of major cardiac events like heart attacks when compared to those who don’t.
What’s the bottom line? Walking is good for your health. Walking can be boring and repetitive. You may want to try something new on your next walk. Here are some ideas to spice up your walk.
Walking With Weights
You can improve your next walk by carrying dumbbells of varying weights or using ankleweights. Weights on your body while walking increase resistance, making your body work harder. This will help you build muscle and work your cardiovascular system.
Change your Terrain
Choose new places to walk every day for the best experience. By switching between different terrains such as roads, sidewalks and dirt paths to your favorite scenic spots, you can avoid boredom. Also, your lower leg muscles must engage different muscular groups on different terrains. Walking on different terrains will improve your muscle tone.
Try Intervals
Try varying your pace by using intervals. You’ll walk at your normal pace for a couple of minutes and then change to a faster pace for 30 to 60 seconds. Then repeat. This exercise is good for the heart, lungs and muscles.
Conclusion
The benefits of walking every day are immeasurable. There are many ways to improve your daily walk. It is enough to get out and walk every day. However, you can always challenge yourself by trying new things.