If your idea of effective heart training includes high-intensity bicycles, long-distance running, or an energetic aerobics lesson, you would be right, but you would miss a simple but effective exercise.
Cardio workouts are called exercises in which the heart muscle is actively involved. There are a lot of types of cardio exercises. This can be, for example, running or walking. In winter, skiing. At home – jumping with the help of a jumping rope.
Brisk walking is an excellent exercise that can be done indoors or outdoors, at any time without having to visit the gym or a large amount of special equipment.
The things that you will require for having comfortable walking training are a strong pair of shoes and the motivation for lacing them up and getting up on your feet.
In this article, we will discuss all the benefits of walking as a cardio exercise and the ways in which you can improve your physical fitness and health by adding a little energy to your step.
Is walking a good kind of cardio exercise?
Cardio means “cardiovascular” which is related to the blood vessels (vascular) and heart (cardio). A perfect cardio workout makes your heart work harder and faster, giving more oxygen-rich blood in an efficient manner to all the muscles, organs and tissues of your body.
According to the best cardiac surgery hospitals, walking is considered to be the best form of cardio activity. But to give a challenge to your cardiovascular system, you are required to walk at a speed and intensity that increase the load on your heart, muscle, and lungs.
What are the benefits of walking?
There are several advantages of walking besides supporting your cardiovascular system. Regular brisk walking can help:
- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases;
- Improve blood flow;
- Manage high blood pressure;
- Improve cholesterol;
- Control blood sugar;
- Strengthen muscles and bones;
- Controlling the weight;
- Improve your sleep;
- Increase your energy level;
- Improve brain function;
Is walking better than running?
Walking is said to be an exercise of medium intensity, which in a nutshell is defined as an activity that permits people to have a conversation, but it is not easy to sing. While on the other hand, running is a much more complex type of activity, and best cardiac hospitals in India believe that this is intense training.
Both walking and running provide some similar benefits. Studies published in the journal of the American Heart Association said that walking and running reduced these risks for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
Always keep in mind that, in order to burn your extra calories and get various advantages that running offers, you will need to walk regularly for a long time period.
But if you don’t have time or don’t want to participate in the 10 km race, walking is best, especially if you have joint problems, injuries or back pain.
Walking creates less stress on the joints and legs than running. A study conducted in 2016 showed that the impact of power when running is much higher than when walking, whether walking moderately or vigorously. This means that walking reduces the risk of joint injuries.
