People who walk regularly swear by the health and psychological benefits of their daily jaunt. Here are five reasons why they’re right.

1. Walking reduces stress, cheers you up and increases self-esteem

If you’ve ever gone out for a walk in a huff and come back more calm and collected, you know firsthand that walking can help reduce your response to a stressful event.

Studies also confirm that walking benefits your mood by releasing your body’s natural happy drugs — endorphins. And you’ll be full of pride at your accomplishment, which helps increase your self-esteem. You’ll respect yourself more.

2. You can lose weight by walking just 30 minutes a day

Walking is one of the best exercises for losing weight — it’s relatively easy to do (and easy on the joints), it’s free and you have to do it every day anyway. To start walking for fitness, try to begin with a 20-minute walk every day. If that’s too much, start smaller. But do set a goal of building to 30 minutes a day, every day.

Once you mastered that, take your time increasing to a higher level. Never increase more than 10 percent more any one day than your maximum the prior week. Once you are ready, increase your goal to 10,000 steps a day (A pedometer will help — see item #4).

3. Regular walking lowers blood pressure, improves sleep and energizes you

Regular walkers have fewer heart attacks and strokes, lower blood pressure and higher levels of HDL (healthy cholesterol) than non-exercisers. Walking can lower blood pressure and LDL (lousy cholesterol), decrease the risk of many cancers and improve immune system function. Plus it improves quality of sleep and keeps you energized.

4. Walks can be easier and more fun with a pedometer and a pal

Tracking your steps with a pedometer is key to walking success, 

To make your workout feel easier too, ask someone to join you. With a walking buddy, you’re bound to enjoy your workout more — and feel it less.

5. People experience a major dip in snack cravings during and after a 15-minute walk

Cravings in general are usually bad news for people trying to lose weight. Craved-for foods tend to be calorie-dense, fatty or sugary, with chocolate being the most commonly reported. Recent findings show that walking can curtail a hankering for chocolate, both during the walk and for about 10 minutes afterward.  the findings suggest that walking helps people lose weight by curbing cravings for sugary snacks.

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