Has someone ever told you taking 10,000 steps a day can greatly increase your health but you’re not sure why? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
You may be wondering why taking so many steps each day would be worth it or what would be the benefits of it. Research from the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) has shown taking steps can help lessen the risk of dementia by 50%. Taking steps has also been linked to less cardiovascular disease, says University of Kansas. Walking 10,000 steps per day also promotes weight loss. According to Scottsdale Weight Loss Center, walking 3,000 steps per day allows for enough caloric burn to begin losing weight.
Taking 10,000 steps a day has also been proven to help improve mental health. According to the National Library of Medicine, aerobic exercises such as walking have been proven to reduce anxiety and depression. By allowing yourself to exercise on a daily basis you are bettering your mental health by increasing cognitive function and improving your self esteem. Walking, along with other types of exercise, has been directly linked to stress relief.
Now that you know the facts, you may be wondering where do I start? When starting out, take it slow. No need to rush it. For the first week track how many steps you take on an average day. After that, make a goal for how many steps you want to take a week, increasing the number each week until you hit 10,000.
By taking 30 minutes out of your day to walk you are improving not only your physical but your mental health as well. Try it out!
Sources: