Walking is pretty awesome. It’s like your body’s own way of lifting weights because you’re moving yourself around. Dr. Marie Kanagie-McAleese, who works with kids in a hospital and leads a walking group, thinks walking is great exercise because it makes a lot of your muscles work hard.
When you walk, parts of your legs, your stomach muscles, and even your arms and shoulders get a workout. Ali Ball, who knows a lot about exercise, says walking is also good for your heart because it keeps it beating fast for a while. Some researchers did a study and found out that walking for 15 minutes can be just as good as running for 5 minutes.
Walking is excellent for your heart and blood vessels. It helps keep your heart healthy and lowers the chance of getting sick with things like heart disease or diabetes.
Is Walking Alone Enough?
But, can you just walk and be totally fit? The rules say you need to do things that make you breathe hard for 150 minutes every week and also do exercises that make your muscles strong twice a week.
You can make your walks tougher by going faster, walking uphill, trying out different paths, or wearing a heavy backpack. Most people don’t think walking is tough exercise, but with a few changes, it can be.
Want to know more about how walking fits into a healthy lifestyle? Read the full article here.