Walking Offers Significant Health Benefits Beyond 10,000 Steps

Experts highlight walking as an accessible exercise that improves physical and mental health, while emphasizing the need for additional activities for overall fitness.

• Walking is an effective way to meet the recommended 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise per week, reducing risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and more.
• Despite its benefits, walking alone does not provide the resistance training necessary for building muscle strength and endurance.
• Experts suggest supplementing walking with resistance exercises and activities that improve flexibility, such as yoga or stretching, at least twice a week.
• The 10,000 steps goal is a guideline rather than a necessity; gradually increasing daily steps or setting time-based goals can be equally effective.
• Walking clubs, like those at the Louisville Zoo, offer social motivation and have grown in popularity, providing community and support for regular walkers.

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Orange County Register CBC Associated Press