Sure, walking can get you from point A to point B. But we’re also learning from a growing body of research that walking regularly (just three or more times per week ) canreduce dementia risk, and even a few minutes per day might help you drift off to sleep quicker and easier.
How much we walk makes a difference, but how fast we walk is vital, too, according to a 2021 study published in theInternational Journal of Obesity. People who walk slower (at a pace of 20 minutes per mile or slower) are up to four times more likely to die from severe cases of COVID-19—and are twice as likely to contract a bad case of this coronavirus—than those who walk at a brisk pace (15-minute miles or quicker).
6 Health Benefits of Walking
By the time Tom Yates, Ph.D., a professor at the UK’s University of Leicester and his colleagues released their findings, theU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and other large, science-based organizations had pinpointed that obesity and high body mass index might put one at higher risk than an individual at a “normal” weight forCOVID-19 complications. This walking study was the first to correlate fitness abilities and COVID-19 risk.Body mass index(BMI) is a measure that’s often used in healthcare to determine a person’s body weight category such as overweight or obese, and therefore, chronic disease risk. However, it has limitations and does not account for individual factors that influence one’s health status, such as body composition, ethnicity, race, sex and age. This is why it shouldn’t be used as a comprehensive measure of someone’s health andcan be a source of body size stigma and bias.
It’s not just about this specific virus, though. The #1 reason why you should consider walking fast regularly is: It canextend your lifespan.
“Fast walkers can live up to 20 years longer,” professor Yates toldThe Daily Mail. “It improves cardiovascular fitness, which is a measure of how efficient your heart is, and your ability to utilize oxygen, which is an indicator of fitness.”
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As you step right up, keep thesesimple walking form tipsin mind, and if you’re ready to take your walking workouts to the next level, tryNordic walking!
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