According to a new study, walking helps you live longer by reducing the risk of having heart attacks by 50 percent.
Metro UK reports a research presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress last weekend shows the benefits of brisk walking exercise, saying taking regular walks could add up to seven years to your life.
"We may never avoid becoming completely old, but we may delay the time we become old. We may look younger when we're 70 and may live into our 90s," said Professor Sanjay Sharma, the study's author. "Exercise buys you three to seven additional years of life."
"It is an anti-depressant, it improves cognitive function and there is now evidence that it may retard the onset of dementia," he added.
Professor Sharma also suggested a proper walking exercise for those who are suffering from heart conditions: "People with a heart condition shouldn't run but walk to a point where they can still speak - but they shouldn't be able to sing."
According to another study published in the Journal of American Medical Association, an average person is recommended to take a 30-minute brisk walk each day for at least five times a week.
Moreover, it is advised for those who are overweight to start slow with a 5-minute warm up, initially followed by a 5-minute brisk walk and a 5-minute cool-down. When done regularly, brisk walking time could then be increased up to 40-50 minutes.
Aside from keeping the heart healthy, brisk walking also boosts a person's mood by stimulating feel-good chemicals such as serotonin and endorphins. These natural boosters also fight stress and anxiety which can be of great help for insomniacs in getting a good night's sleep.
Walking also makes the muscles and bones strong, which greatly reduces the risks of developing osteoporosis.
