5 Reasons to Start Walking

It’s National Walking Day—the ideal time to incorporate walking into your lifestyle. If you’re trying to lose weight or maintain results, walking is an excellent way to ramp up your physical activity levels and boost your diet efforts. Read on to discover the many benefits of walking—and learn why transformational nutrition coach Maria Mizzi recommends adopting it as one of your exercise modes.

1. Walking Improves Overall Health

A regular walking program yields a wide range of benefits that improve your overall health and fitness levels. Walking helps prevent and combat many health conditions and diseases, including obesity, back pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and even various forms of cancer, such as breast and colon. It strengthens your muscles and bones, and helps prevent osteoporosis.

2. Weight Loss

Walking helps metabolize calories and modestly burns fat. Research shows that it improves blood sugar levels and glycemic control, especially after meals. Walking also promotes healthy triglyceride levels and assists with digestion after meals—one of the best things you can do is go for a walk after eating. Even 10 minutes of brisk walking after a meal can impact your waistline and overall health.

3. Stress Reduction

Walking helps reduce stress and elevate your mood—and when you do it in a natural setting, such as a park, beach or trail, it will lower your cortisol levels even more.

4. It’s Easy

There’s a reason that walking has the lowest drop-off rate of any physical activity—it’s easy to do! The only equipment you need to get started are supportive shoes and comfortable clothes. You can do it anywhere and it’s free. It’s also a great way to catch up with friends and help each other stay motivated.

5. It’s Low Impact

Walking is gentle, which means almost anyone can do it. It’s easy on your joints and muscles, and therefore, provides a lower risk for injury, making it an excellent option for those suffering from debilitating diseases like arthritis. Walking also improves balance and coordination, which is helpful for those recovering from an injury. It’s also an excellent starting point for anyone who hasn’t worked out in awhile.

One of the best ways to discover new ways to optimize your health and change your body is to work with a transformational nutrition coach like Maria Mizzi. You’ll find ways to uplevel your mindset and practices so that you can live a healthier, happier life.