Walking: Five reasons why it's the best form of exercise

New Delhi: If you are regularly physically active and taking a walk, then you have a lower risk than inactive people of developing various health conditions. Walking is also one of the easiest ways of losing weight without a diet.

Daily walk has also been linked to an increased lifespan. So, get started and reap the benefits of walking – from helping you lose any unwanted fat gains and de-stress to letting you live longer and lowering your risk of various illnesses. Walking is gentle, simple, low-impact exercise and can be done by anyone - old or young, male or female. It is one of the best things you can do for your health.

Here are some amazing benefits of regular walking:

Heart health

Walking is great cardio exercise as it lowers levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and increases levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. As per the Stroke Association, taking a brisk 30-minute walk every day helps to prevent and control the high blood pressure that causes strokes and heart disease.

Good health

A regular walking habit can help you get healthier and prevent various conditions such as - type 2 diabetes, cancer of the colon, breast or womb.

Weight management

Regular brisk walking can help you maintain a healthy weight.It is said that adding 30 minutes of brisk walking to your daily routine can help you burn about 150 more calories a day.

Reduced stress

Brisk waliking, like any other cardiovascular exercise, boosts endorphins - which can reduce stress hormones and alleviate mild depression. Studies show that regular walking is just as effective as antidepressants in mild to moderate cases of depression as it elevates your mood while reducing stress and anxiety.

Better performance

Studies find that walking, productivity and creativity go hand in hand. Brisk walk is considered as one of the best natural energisers around – a good amount of energy can help you feel more alert, active and perform better.

Health experts suggest that we should walk 10,000 steps a day (about five miles) to stay healthy. If you're not regularly exercising or have been sedentary for a long period of time and want to start get back into a workout routine, walking can be hugely beneficial to your overall fitness.