Liputan6.com, Jakarta Today, a healthy lifestyle has become more and more popular. Many people spend money on gym memberships and hours every week for workouts. But sometimes, we forget about one of the simplest forms of exercise: walking.
According to UCLA Health, on average, people in the US walk between 4,000 to 5,000 steps every day. This is only around half of the ideal, which is 10,000 steps daily. While it may seem excessive, the benefits for your health are also significant.
So, why do you need to walk 10,000 steps every day? Here are some reasons that you should know:
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1. Burn Calories
If you want to manage your weight, you should walk more. The more you walk, the more calories you burn every day. According to Healthline, there are four factors that determine how many calories you burn when walking: the speed, the distance, the terrain, and your weight.
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2. Boost Immune System
Walking every day will help you to get sick less often. After all, walking helps to boost your immune system. According to Harvard Medical School, research has found that people who walk 20 minutes each day for at least 5 days a week had 43% fewer sick days than those who exercised once a week or less. They will also recover faster.
3. Good for Your Brain
If you want to improve your brain function, just get out and take a walk now. According to the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, walking helps to improve the way your brain cells work. This exercise will boost your focus, creativity, and problem-solving ability. Not only that, walking also helps to reduce the risk of brain diseases, such as dementia.
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4. Strengthen Your Heart
The CDC said that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women from most racial and ethnic groups in the US. If you want to prevent this problem, you should walk more every day. According to the American Heart Association, walking 150 minutes a week will help to improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This will help you reduce the risk of heart disease.
5. Ease Joint Pain
If you are struggling with joint pain, try to walk every day. The Arthritis Foundation says that there are two ways walking helps you with this problem. First, walking helps to maintain a healthy body weight. Less weight means less pressure on your joints, which lessens the pain. Walking also helps to increase the range of motions of your joints and strengthen the muscles. The Harvard Medical School adds that walking 6 miles a week can also help to prevent arthritis.
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6. Boost Your Mood
Whenever you feel bad mood, you can put on your shoes and walk outside. You will feel better in no time. The Riverside Health says that walking helps to reduce stress hormones, such as cortisol. In fact, brisk walking helps to boost endorphins. It's one of the "feel-good" hormones that will make you feel happy.
7. It's Free and Simple
Last, but not least, walking is free. You can go around the nearest park, or just around your block. You don't need to go to the gym, for example, just to move your body. This makes walking a perfect exercise for busy people. You can always make time for walking. For example, you can walk to your office or train station, or just take the stairs instead of the elevator. You can also buy a standing table and under desk treadmill so you can walk while you are working.
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