Benefits of Walking

Big meals can wreak havoc on blood-sugar levels and leave you feeling sluggish, but not if you time your walks appropriately. Three 15-minute post-meal walks each day were more effective at regulating blood-sugar levels than was a single 45-minute walk midmorning or in the afternoon. Also elderly subjects who walked for 40 minutes three times a week for a year experienced a 2 percent average increase in size of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory and emotion. Any activity that gradually gets your heart rate up is good for your cardiovascular health. Any type of physical activity will improve metabolism, regulate hormone levels, and enhance immune function, and walking is no different.