The Benefits of Walking for Health

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Walking is one of the simple physical activities to do. Even though it looks easy and trivial, walking provides health benefits for the body.

However, walking has become quite difficult to do in today's era of rapid and modern technological conveniences. Nonetheless, walking is still a practical exercise that brings many benefits.

Here is the list of benefits of walking for health:

1. Prevent Heart Disease

According to the official website of the Ministry of Health (Kemkes), walking is as effective as running in terms of preventing heart disease and stroke. These activities help lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels and improve blood circulation.

2. Healthy bones

Walking can prevent the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis. According to the info from arthritis.org, for post-menopausal women, walking for 30 minutes every day reduces the risk of hip fracture by 40 percent.

3. Prevent Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's is a disease that reduces memory and the ability to think and speak. Walking is believed to be one of the efforts to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease because it improves blood circulation in the body, including the brain. In addition, walking can increase heart rate, lower blood pressure and strengthen the heart.

4. Prevent diabetes

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive & Kidney Diseases, getting used to walking about 6 km per hour, with a travel time of about 50 minutes, has been proven to delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes, especially in those who are obese. Diabetes can be prevented by doing regular exercise.

5. Lose weight

Citing from Healthline, walking can help the body burn calories. Burning calories can help to lose or maintain weight. Several factors that determine the calorie burn in walking are based on speed, distance, and body weight.

Naomi Nugraheni | Translator: Intern / Imaji Lasahido

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