You've heard that you should aim to walk about 10,000 steps every day, and you're probably familiar with the fact that regular exercise can help you shed pounds, but there are some even more impressive accomplishments you may not have known about. Here are the top 8 surprising benefits of walking:
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It Reduces Your Diabetes Risk. Research has found that brisk walking every day has been linked to a significant risk reduction for developing type 2 diabetes. A British study found that people with a family history of type 2 diabetes who walked briskly on a regular basis improved insulin sensitivity.
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It Increases Your Sex Drive. Studies have found that those who exercise regularly reported not only a greater sex drive, but better sexual satisfaction overall.
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It Saves You Money. By taking a walk outside every day, you're saving the cost of a gym membership! Try investing in a pedometer though. This way you can count your steps each day and work towards a goal.
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It Can Get You Off Your Medication. In a National Walkers' Health Study of more than 32,000 women and 8,000 men, researchers found that those who took long weekly walks were more likely to use less medication.
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It Can Ease Fibromyalgia Pain. Affecting more than 4% of the population, this chronic condition leaves individuals with terrible pain, fatigue and brain fog. A small study found that women 32 to 72 who walked 50 minutes, performed light exercise, and stretched three times a week for 18 weeks reported significant improvements in walking and mental capacity. Overall, they reported feeling less tired and depressed.
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It Can Help You Beat Breast Cancer. Women who walk regularly after being diagnosed with breast cancer have a 45% greater chance of survival than those who are inactive, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Another study found that those who exercised regularly a year prior to their diagnosis were 30% more likely to beat breast cancer.
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It Reduces Your Risk of Stroke. According to a University of South Carolina study, walking briskly for just 30 minutes, five days a week significantly reduces your risk of stroke. These individuals had a 40% lower risk of suffering from a stroke than those with the lowest fitness levels.
It Can Lower Your Risk of Developing Dementia. Italian researchers monitored 749 people suffering from memory problems in a study that measures their walking and moderately involved activities. After four years, the researchers found that those who expended the most energy walking had a 27% lower risk of developing dementia than those who expended the least energy.
Walking is a great form of exercise and is perfect for those who are new to exercise or have a hard time with moderate- to high-intensity exercising. So get out and hit the pavement this week to reap all the benefits of walking!