Brisk Walking Benefits

In olden days when there were no gyms, no treadmill, no gym equipment, how do you think people maintained their health and fitness? Well, its walking, jogging, and running that helped them. They didn't have to deliberately resort to it but their lifestyle involved a lot of physical activities including walking and jogging. Unlike modern days where our lifestyles are very sedentary and only machines work more than humans. But it is time we get moving and get back to our roots. With increasing number of gyms and advanced exercise equipment, we are neglecting the simple health boosting exercise form - brisk walking.

Benefits of Brisk Walking

Walking exercises are associated with various health benefits. It is one of the best cardiovascular exercises. Below given are some of the advantages of fast walking.

Weight Loss - Walking to lose weight is the best option for obese people as it is one of the fat burning exercises. Many of the overweight people cannot perform vigorous exercises, due to their excessive weight. Such people can lose weight initially by walking and gradually start with intense exercise forms. It also helps in maintaining overall health and fitness.

Strengthens Heart - Brisk walking is known to control heart diseases. Various studies have shown that people who walk regularly for half an hour have the lower risk of acquiring heart ailments including heart attack. It also helps in controlling other coronary and heart related problems by increasing stamina of a person.

Improves Brain Health - Brisk walking secretes hormones that make the person feel happy and elevated. It is also a great stress buster. This mental stability increases the cognitive abilities of the person and it also keeps the person away from depression and negative feelings. All this helps in focusing and sharpening of the brain.

Fights Cancer - Brisk walking is also known to fight various types of cancer. Some of the research studies have shown that, it reduces the risk of breast cancer in women by stimulating the immune system. Women who brisk walk regularly have less chances of developing breast cancer compared to those who do not exercise. It is also known to prevent colon cancer by strengthening abdominal muscles.

Strengthens Muscles and Bones - It is one of the strength training exercises. It helps in building and strengthening muscles by giving them elasticity and flexibility. It also help in fortifying your bones and make them stronger and endurable. The strong body increases the longevity of your life.

These were some of the prominent brisk walking benefits, that cover the entire spectrum of your fitness training. A daily brisk walk of 30 minutes is known to provide you with all the above mentioned benefits. Another benefit is that you may not require a personal trainer or do not have to enroll in any gymnasium. You can brisk walk in a garden or ground that has an additional advantage of pure oxygen that can improve your lung functions.

Brisk Walking Vs. Jogging

Brisk walking and Jogging offers almost the similar health benefits. The only difference is that you can achieve the benefits faster with running and jogging. If the distance is 3 miles, then a person who is jogging or running covers it faster than a person who is walking. In other words, 30 minutes of brisk walking is equal to 15 to 20 minutes of jogging. So jogging is good for people who do not have much time for exercising. Apart from saving time there are no apparent benefits of jogging over walking. But to maximize the effects you can try various speed variations in walking. Calories burned by walking depend on the metabolism rate of the person, but on an average, a 30 minute brisk walk can help you burn around 200 calories. Ideal brisk walking speed differs for each individual. But generally, you should walk at a speed which is quite fast but not very exhausting.

Brisk walking combined with healthy diet and sound lifestyle will certainly help you stay fit and fight the diseases. If you have already go to a gym them inculcate brisk walking in your daily workout regimen to improve your overall health. Now get, set, go!!!