5 Surprising Benefits Of Walking 

Walking is a simple activity with many health benefits. It helps to improve our heart health, boost mood, support weight loss, and strength our muscles and bones. Just 30 mins of walk a day can improve your overall physical and mental well being. 

Here’s a list of five benefits of walking that may surprise you.

1) Counteracts the effects of weight-promoting genes. Research shows that 32 obesity-promoting genes in over 12,000 people to determine how much these genes actually contribute to body weight. Among the study participants who walked briskly for about an hour a day, the effects of those genes were cut in half.

2) Helps tame a sweet tooth. A study found out that a 15-minute walk can curb cravings for chocolate and even reduce the amount of chocolate you eat in stressful situations. And the latest research confirms that walking can reduce cravings and intake of a variety of sugary snacks.

3) Reduces the risk of developing breast cancer. Researchers already know that any kind of physical activity blunts the risk of breast cancer. But an American Cancer Society study that zeroed in on walking found that women who walked seven or more hours a week had a 14% lower risk of breast cancer than those who walked three hours or fewer per week. And walking provided this protection even for the women with breast cancer risk factors, such as being overweight or using supplemental hormones.

4) Eases joint pain. Several studies have found that walking reduces arthritis-related pain, and that walking five to six miles a week can even prevent arthritis from forming in the first place. Walking protects the joints — especially the knees and hips, which are most susceptible to osteoarthritis — by lubricating them and strengthening the muscles that support them.

5) Enhances immune health, walking can offer protection during cold and flu season. Research involving more than 1,000 adults showed that individuals who walked for at least 20 minutes a day, five or more days a week, experienced 43% fewer days of illness compared to those who exercised only once a week or less. Even when they did fall sick, their illnesses were shorter and symptoms less severe.

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