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Walking seems like such a regular, everyday activity, but it’s one of the best – and easiest – ways to improve your health.

And it doesn’t need to be long stretches of walking to reap the benefits. Just 20-30 minutes per day can increase your cardiovascular health, help you lose weight and lift your emotions.

Here are 8 things that just a little jaunt around the block can help you with:

Strengthens your heart – walking up to 30 minutes a day helps reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, lowering bad (LDL) cholesterol and increasing good (HDL) cholesterol.

Boosts Vitamin D – Walking outside helps your body synthesize sunlight into Vitamin D. Since it’s difficult to get Vitamin D from food, it’s important to participate in outdoor activities to absorb this vital nutrient.

Keeps your brain sharp – Taking a daily walk can help reduce dementia by up to 40%. It preserves memory and helps avoid brain shrinkage.

Lowers risk of disease – Besides being great for your heart, walking every day can lower your risk of diabetes, asthma and certain cancers.

Keeps your body trim – Walking at a brisk pace can help you burn about 100 calories in 30 minutes. It also builds and tones muscles.

Boosts Energy – A brisk walk every day boosts circulation and increases oxygen, helping you feel refreshed and energized.

Builds strong bones – Walking actually stimulates and makes bones stronger by increasing their density. It can also help reduce the chance of developing arthritis by keeping joints healthy.

Elevates your mood – Just a few minutes of walking out in the sun can have a similar impact on depression as taking antidepressants. Any type of moderate exercise – such as walking – helps release endorphins into the blood stream that reduce stress and anxiety.

If you think that what you learned about the benefits of walking can help a friend you know, feel free to share this article with them.

Sources

http://www.livestrong.com/article/378489-how-does-exercise-affect-the-cardiovascular-system/

http://walking.about.com/od/mindandspirit/a/dementia092404.htm

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/6/1524.full

http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Exercise/default.asp

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/weight-loss/walking-weight-off-how-a-daily-walk-can-help-you-shed-pounds.html#b

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Exercise-and-Depression-report-excerpt.htm

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