Walking has a double benefit: it’s excellent for physical and mental health.
Despite winter, cold, rain, walking remains a gentle and accessible physical activity that should not be overlooked. It is also the ideal activity to preserve cardiovascular health. “Having a regular walking makes it possible to work the heart in an uninforced way, which promotes good blood circulation, resulting in an oxygenation of the organs, especially muscles”explains the sports coach Samuel Chaber. Walking also stimulates the production of endorphins, essential to combat anxiety and depression, the risk of which increases during cold seasons. And “This activity oxygenates the brain which improves cognitive functions, blood circulation and the lymphatic system”.
To maximize these benefits, there are two moments to favor during the day to go for a walk. First on the midday time. This allows you to cut the day, especially when you work. This break is accompanied by mental, emotional benefits by allowing a reduction in stress and a regulation of mood. “Walking during your breakfast break allows you to focus on your thoughts, organize yourself and make a break in the day, especially if you sit the rest of the time” supports Samuel Chaber. By stimulating blood circulation after lunch, you can also improve digestion.
This is even more true if we are going to walk in the morning, according to the sports coach. “The advantage of walking in the morning is that we are on an empty stomach, it teaches the body to use its sugars in the blood, its lipids and its fats as a source of energy.” By teaching the body to metabolize your nutrients, you can also bring up a slightly low blood sugar level. The other advantage of walking in the morning is to stimulate appetite and thus get into the habit of eating breakfast when you are usually not hungry when you wake up. So in the morning is therefore the best time of the day to go for a walk.
Now that you know when walking, you can slightly increase the difficulty of your daily walking. To do this, just alternate between fast walking and slow walking to catch your breath. By choosing certain routes, you can also combine mounted and descents, “This makes it possible to activate the work of the posterior chain and lower muscles” a little more. Regarding the number of steps, “It is specific to everyone. It depends on your level and what you are looking for as benefits”. But remember that for Samuel Chaber, 45 minutes of walking per day already make it possible to obtain effects on energy and the mind.
Thanks to Samuel Chaber, sports coach at Keepcool.