Reasons to Walk Daily for Better Health
by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD
Incorporate an after-dinner walk each night. You can increase the duration by one minute each week, and in no time you’ll have logged hundreds of miles! Change up the terrain as well. Walking on uneven surfaces, such as sand or gravel, activates different muscles in the legs and engages more of the core muscle groups. And also make sure you have a good pair of walking/running shoes. Walking is one of the easiest ways to get active or ease you into a fitness regimen.
Just 30 minutes per day of walking can:
• Alleviate depression and fatigue
• Limit your risk for chronic disease
• Cut your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in half
• Reduce your risk for heart disease
• Improve blood pressure
• Activates and works arm/shoulder muscles
• Reduce lower back pain
• Reduce your risk of colon cancer by 40%
• Improve your overall fitness
• Strengthen the legs and hips
• Maintain or aid in weight loss
