The startling emergence of chronic disorders including diabetes, heart disease, asthma, cancers and arthritis nowadays, in people of all ages be it youngsters, middle-aged or the elderly, certainly shines the spotlight on the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle. And physical fitness is one very crucial pillar to lead a vigorous, disease-free life, the other two being mental wellness and emotional stability.
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In this regard, a brisk morning walk is unanimously recommended by doctors, nutritionists, dietitians, personal trainers and fitness coaches alike, to steer clear of unhealthy sedentary habits, stimulate metabolism, bolster immunity, shed excess calories and burn surplus body fat. Moreover, regularly taking a stroll in the neighbourhood park, nearby residential streets or even a spacious open terrace in your apartment complex at dawn eliminates the need to hit the gym, which many people don’t prefer even today.
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Read on, to discover the fabulous health benefits of going for a 30-minute walk routinely in the daytime, as well as some basic guidelines on how to incorporate dynamic movements, for strong muscles, bones and joints.
Superb Health Benefits Of Morning Walks:
Accelerates Weight Loss
Rampant sedentary lifestyles presently have led to a sharp rise in obesity and overweight people. Also, dietary restrictions are challenging to follow at all times. Taking a fast-paced walk every day as the first activity in the morning, no matter what foods are being consumed as part of the routine diet, aids in losing weight, particularly the harmful visceral belly fat. This preserves healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) and manage obesity and overweight conditions.
Improves Energy Levels
A lack of physical activity definitely makes an individual rather tired, with high levels of fatigue and lethargy. A brisk morning walk works wonders in stimulating metabolism, which is the breakdown of food components to generate energy, for performing routine chores at home and work. Moving the whole body constantly for 20 to 30 minutes every morning supplies ample stamina to carry out all types of arduous tasks for the rest of the day.
Prevents Chronic Diseases
Needless to mention, exercise is key to averting diseases later on in life. Numerous instances of diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and even neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, dementia, have been linked to an inactive lifestyle. The rigorous motion of the bodily muscles in the morning relieves stiffness in joints, controls fluctuations in blood sugar and blood pressure, improves blood flow to the nerve cells, brain and strengthens bones and muscles.
Uplifts Mood And Memory
Taking a morning walk daily significantly increases the synthesis and transport of neurotransmitters i.e. chemicals that relay signals via nerves to various organs in the body. This ensures that cognitive functions are maximal, with heightened intelligence, memory, rational thinking. Also, discomforting symptoms of depression and anxiety are mitigated by going for a walk in the daytime, vastly improving mental wellbeing, overall energy levels and positive thinking.
Promotes Deep Sleep
Insomnia is often reported by people of all age groups currently, due to hectic schedules at work and home, besides personal challenges and unhealthy, untimely eating habits. A morning walk is the best solution to combat all sleep-related disorders including insomnia, excessive snoring, sleep apnea. This is because routine physical exercise strains the body in the daytime and hence, sufficient rest occurs naturally at night and continuous, uninterrupted sleep is guaranteed.
Fortifies Muscles, Bones And Joints
While essential nutrients of proteins, vitamins and minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorous are crucial for muscle strength and bone health, regular exercise is what helps maintain the flexibility of the joints and supplies sturdy bones, muscles. Going for a brisk morning walk for 30 minutes daily uplifts bone density, keeps joints lubricated, reinforces muscles and lowers the risk of acquiring arthritis, osteoporosis and other debilitating illnesses in old age.
Enhances Heart Wellness
A morning walk, a short jog or even running offers tremendous incentives for heart health. The active movement of the body improves blood circulation to the heart, strengthens the cardiac muscles and prevents conditions like hypertension, cardiac arrest, heart attack, atherosclerosis and arrhythmia i.e. irregular heartbeats. Going for a vigorous walk in the daytime for at least 30 minutes increases cardiac functions, improves lung capacity, averts breathing problems and respiratory illnesses as well.
Augments Metabolism
A morning walk paired with a cardio workout will boost your metabolism for the whole day and make you feel active and energetic. Ensure to drink a glass or two of water after your walk. As water can trigger your metabolism, keeps you hydrated, eliminates toxins from the system, fuels the brain, and can even make you eat less.
Enhances Mental Lucidity
Regular morning walks may support fostering mental clarity and the ability to focus throughout the day. Evidence revealed that those who started their days with a morning walk had increased cognitive function, compared to those who led a sedentary lifestyle. Further, walking may also open up the free flow of ideas that may help you in handling problems better than if you’re staying sedentary.
Make Better Choices
Well, starting your day with a walk may trigger brain cells and set you up to make healthier choices throughout the day. In addition, after your walk, you may feel energized and less sleep deprived.
Additional Workout Tips:
Rather than the evening or nighttime, take a walk in the morning, as there is less pollution at this time of day and the outside air that we breathe is cleaner.
Go for a morning walk before breakfast, as the basic exercise stimulates the digestive tract, for smooth absorption of food and energy metabolism.
Direct exposure to the morning sunlight helps the body vitamin D, a vital nutrient for bone health, immunity and mental wellness.
Conclusion:
A morning walk is a simple and excellent way to burn calories, lose weight, boost metabolism, improve immunity and ensure sound mental health. Keep in mind to take a morning walk for at least 30 minutes daily and wear comfortable clothes, shoes to ensure no discomfort while exercising. Also, taking little sips of water is fine, but avoid drinking excess quantities of liquids during the course of the 30 minute morning walk, as this hampers the productivity of the highly beneficial physical activity.
