Benefits of Walking as an Exercise

Edgar Alacan graduated from Brooklyn College, where he studied business administration. He is the co-founder of Jets.com, where he manages and directs the company’s day-to-day operation. Away from work, Edgar Alacan enjoys traveling, exercising, and walking.

Walking is something many humans do every day to go from one point to another. It is an essential part of life and living; however, walking intentionally for exercise with a set goal has several advantages.

Firstly, it helps reduce the risk of heart disease by increasing heart rate and reducing blood pressure, thereby strengthening the heart. According to research, walking for at least 30 minutes five days a week will reduce the average person’s risk of coronary heart disease by roughly 19 percent. Consequently, increasing the duration or distance walked per day may minimize health risks even further.

Secondly, walking tones the leg, stomach, and biceps. This improves an individual’s range of motion by moving pressure and weight from their joints towards their muscles.

Walking can help safeguard the joints, particularly the knees and hips. It does this by lubricating and strengthening the muscles that stabilize the joints. The activity may also benefit people with arthritis, such as pain relief. In addition, walking 3 to 4 miles per week may help avoid arthritis.

Lastly, walking enhances breathing. It accelerates the rate at which a person breathes, causing oxygen to travel faster through their system, expelling waste products, and boosting their energy level and healing ability.