Walking is one of the most popular physical activities for people. Not only cheap and easy to do, there are various benefits of leisurely walking for health that you can also get.
Even though it seems simple, the habit of walking or taking a leisurely walk offers a variety of health benefits, from losing weight, increasing bone strength, reducing stress, to increasing endurance.
If you've been too busy and rarely exercise, start by taking a leisurely walk on a regular basis to keep your body healthy.
Benefits of leisurely walks for health
To keep your body fit and healthy, you need to exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes every day or at least 3-4 times a week. The type of exercise you choose can also vary, including leisurely walking.
In addition to being practical and easy to do, there are many benefits of leisurely walking that you can get if you do it regularly, including:
1. Lose weight
If you are one of those people who are not used to strenuous exercise, but want to lose weight, you can try a leisurely walk. A leisurely walk with a fast rhythm for 30 minutes can burn about 150 calories in the body.
By burning calories, excess fat tissue in the body will be trimmed so that your weight is also reduced. So that the benefits of this one leisure walk can be more optimal, you are also advised to live a healthy diet.
2. Maintain heart health
Any type of exercise, including leisurely walking, is very beneficial for maintaining heart health. When you are diligent in moving or walking frequently, blood circulation in the body will be smoother. Regular exercise is also good for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
By regularly moving and doing leisurely walks, your risk of heart disease will decrease.
3. Prevent diabetes
Not only lowering the risk of heart disease, leisurely walking can also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. By regularly exercising and walking leisurely, the body will be more active in processing blood sugar so that its levels can be more controlled.
Several studies have also shown that people who regularly engage in physical activity or exercise, including leisurely walking, have a lower risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
4. Increase bone and muscle strength
Regular walking is also beneficial for maintaining bone and muscle strength, especially in the elderly. This good habit can even reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
5. Maintain endurance
The habit of rarely moving or exercising can make you sick easily because your immune system is weakened. If you feel like you don't have enough time to exercise, you can make a brisk walk a daily routine.
Try to take the time to take a leisurely walk, for example in the morning before starting an activity or in the afternoon after coming home from work, for at least 30 minutes.
6. Reduce stress
When you exercise and walk leisurely, your body will produce endorphins that can naturally deal with stress. Not only managing stress, relaxing walks can also improve mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and make sleep better.
To make it even more fun, you can take a leisurely walk while listening to your favorite music or song.
Tips for a Relaxing Comfortable Walk
You can only get the various benefits of a leisurely walk above if you do it regularly. now, here are some tips for a comfortable relaxing walk:
- Use sports shoes that fit and are comfortable on the feet.
- Wear clothes that can absorb sweat well.
- Always carry a bottle filled with drinking water and drink enough water to prevent dehydration.
- Warm up before a leisurely walk and end with a cool down.
- Choose a safe and beautiful relaxing route.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, you still need to implement health protocols by always maintaining physical distance when exercising. As much as possible, choose a leisurely walking route that is not too crowded to keep your distance and reduce physical contact with other people.
If you still have questions about the benefits of walking or have certain conditions that prevent you from walking, try to consult a doctor to get a solution.
