Regular brisk walking increases longevity and allows you to live up to 20 years longer according to a UK expert
Walking is good but if we want to have the maximum benefits we have to pick up the pace. Several scientific studies, some very recent, have in fact highlighted many health benefits of a good walk at a brisk pace. These include the possibility of increasing one's longevity by earning up to 20 years of life.
A study released last March by a team from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Center in the UK revealed that people who walk slowly are up to four times more likely to die from severe Covid cases. -19 and are more than twice as likely to contract the virus in severe form. (Read also: Speed up the pace! If you walk slowly you run this danger just discovered by scientists)
For people who walk, the study was another compelling reason (to add to the ever-growing body of research) that suggests brisk walking is a particularly useful form of exercise.
By "brisk walking" or "brisk walking", we generally mean having a pace that makes breathing heavier, during which you can speak but not sing.
Professor Thomas Yates, lead author of the study that linked brisk walking to lower risk of aggravation for Covid-19, offered perhaps the main reason why we should take faster walks every day:
“Fast walkers can live up to 20 years longer. Improve cardiovascular fitness, which is a measure of your heart's efficiency, and your ability to use oxygen, which is an indicator of fitness "
Several studies confirm what the professor said. For example, a large study published in 2015 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a brisk 20-minute walk each day could reduce the risk of death by up to 30%.
In fact, even those who do not walk briskly can still enjoy a number of benefits. William Kraus, a professor at Duke University Molecular Physiology Institute, revealed in an interview with the New York Times how "the little things people do every day," like walking while shopping and climbing stairs, "can add up and influence the risk of illness and death ".
Kraus oversaw a study published in 2018 that found that those who move briefly and even exercise lightly for less than 20 minutes each day are much less likely to die sooner.
But certainly, when and if possible, it is better to opt for a brisk walk since the benefits it offers are many more. Here is what has been discovered by scientific research.
Index
More intelligence and creativity
Scientists have linked brisk walking, along with other forms of moderate exercise, to a healthier brain and better cognitive performance. A study, published by APA PsycNet, found that doing more exercise is associated with the creation of innovative and successful ideas, in practice brisk walking on a regular basis favors our creativity.
A better rest
Scientists have shown that taking a brisk morning walk outdoors is critical to resetting our biological clock every day and making sure we sleep more soundly at night.
Dr Michael Mosley said in a podcast:
“Light drives your biological clock. So in the evening, when you want to go to sleep, your body is ready for it. If you are struggling to sleep at night, it may be that you are not getting enough bright light in the morning. "
Less stress, anxiety or depression
According to the Mayo Clinic, brisk walking can relieve symptoms associated with depression and anxiety, allowing the body to release endorphins that improve feelings of well-being, distract the mind, and help build confidence and boost self-esteem.
You burn calories
Typically, a 20-minute brisk walk (2.000-3.000 steps) will result in 90-110 calories burned. Obviously then if you walk longer and more often, this good habit can really help in weight loss.
Read also:
- Walking: 10 reasons to do it at least 30 minutes a day
- Walking is good: what happens to the brain when we don't move
- Physical activity: at least 20 minutes a day, now even the WHO says so
