Walk the
WALK Easy, free and good for your health, hit the trail and walk yourself fit
Running and cycling may be the big hitters of the fitness circuit but research shows that walking can be just as effective in helping you to build strength and stamina, lose weight and get heart healthy. The best part is that the benefits aren’t just physical – studies also show that getting outside and reconnecting with nature is great for our mental health too. Free and easily accessible, most of us have access to open spaces whether we live in urban or rural areas, and during lockdown more of us took advantage of time on our hands while gyms were closed, to make a walk our daily exercise. If you’re thinking, ‘walking is for wimps’, it's time to reconsider.
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A 2013 US study showed that daily low-impact, steady-state cardio (LISS) such as brisk walking can help your heart health as much as running. Across two studies, researchers compared the data of runners and walkers discovering that walkers experienced greater health benefits, reducing the risk of first-time high blood pressure and cholesterol by almost half, compared to runners, and matching a 12 per cent cut in the risk of firsttime diabetes. Using the same muscle groups at a lower intensity, walking has a significant impact on health and fitness. The study’s leader, Dr Paul Williams of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, said: “People are always looking for an excuse not to exercise, but ›››
