Take A Walk. Everyday. Outdoor Movement May Provide You Unexpected Benefits

How Walking Can Improve Your Health

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Walking is a simple way to improve your health and it doesn’t have to be complicated. You can start out as an average walker, and over time, speed up the strides on your daily neighborhood route. This helps to create aerobic activity, improve your heart health and build up endurance while burning calories, according to the Mayo Clinic.

How can you get started? Late winter and early spring are great times to pound the pavement, as temperatures are more mild and the ground is thawing in some parts of the country.

Here are a few tips and tricks to get your walking routine underway:

1. As few as 4,000 steps a day can decrease your risk of early death, according to recent research, according to the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

2. Experts at the Mayo Clinic say walking also improves blood pressure and cardiovascular health, and can help control blood sugar.

4. Mentally, walking doesn’t just improve mood, it also helps maintain memory and cognitive function, according to the American Council on Exercise.

To get started, try incorporating a 30-minute walk into your daily routine, either outside or on a treadmill. Build up with strength training over time. Even small amounts of activity adds up to benefit your body.

For a more intense workout, try walking uphill for longer periods of time, or up and down stairs.

And when you’re ready, you may even want to start to run.

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