Walking Just Over 2,000 Steps Daily Can Save Your Life; Here's How

Walking is among the best physical activities that not only takes care of your physical fitness but also your mental health. Apart from boosting your cardiac health and helping you lose weight, walking is among the most effective solutions for your overall well-being.

Even as everyone keeps extremely busy, finding time to exercise can be difficult. And so, walking emerges as the easiest and most effective way to keep yourself fit and happy. According to recent research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, for every additional 2,200 steps you take daily, it helps significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and death.

Experts believe the advantages do not just end there, as health benefits increase with the number of steps taken—between 9,000 and 10,500 steps per day, associated with the greatest benefits. The study says the lowest risk of early death was among people who took 9,000 to 10,500 steps a day. When it came to avoiding stroke and heart attack, the lowest risks were in people taking about 9,700 steps a day.

According to scientists, the number of steps you take is independent of your time spent being sedentary and the benefits just keep on increasing more as your step count goes high.

While walking is free and can be done anywhere, experts believe it should be incorporated into your daily routine, other than the activities you do daily. All you need to start walking is a sturdy pair of walking shoes. A few health benefits of walking include:

According to studies, walking improves the working of your heart and controls:

• Blood pressure
• Body weight and body mass index
• Endothelial cell health and function

Stabilises blood sugar levels

Walking daily after eating helps lower your blood sugar levels and stabilize them as well. Studies say that standing and light walking throughout the day are associated with improved postprandial blood sugar levels—with walking having more of an effect than standing.

Make sure to take a short walk when you are looking to take a quick break from working or other sedentary activities like sitting or lying on the bed for a long time. This will help you include exercise in your day without needing to carve out large chunks of time.

Walking protects and eases joint pain—including knees. According to doctors, daily walking can help lubricate and strengthen the muscles that support the joints.

Walking also helps those with arthritis as it slowly alleviates joint pain and stiffness along with strengthening the muscles in your legs.

Whenever you feel extremely tired, try going for a walk and you will feel energetic again. Walking increases oxygen flow through the body and increases levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine hormones involved in regulating the central nervous system.

These are the hormones that help elevate energy levels.

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