There are 8 ways walking helps our brainpower, do you know that?
Reports and studies from prestigious academia and news network have shown that walking improves our brain functions.
The good thing is it doesn’t even have to be full-on power walking! Even a 20- or 30-minute walk during your lunch break can have a positive impact on your brain.
Here are eight ways science has proven that walking is excellent for our brain.
- Walking Lowers Physical and Mental Fatigue. A 2008 study here by the University of Georgia found that just three sessions a week of a low-intensity exercise like walking can reduce fatigue levels by as much as 65 percent.
2. Walking Improves Creativity. Artists, writers, and philosophers have long known the importance of walking for clearing blocked creativity and getting inspiration flowing again. Science can now back this up with a 2014 study here by Stanford University shows that walking increases your creative output by up to sixty percent.
3. Walking Improve Your Cognitive Function. A Harvard Health study here have shown that the magic amount of twenty to thirty minutes of daily aerobic exercise, such as walking, improves cognitive function and memory.
4. Walking Helps Lower Your Risk of Depression. Walking is an excellent way to improve your mental health. A report from a 2018 study here showed that any kind of moderate aerobic exercise like brisk walking can boost your brain health and lower your risk of developing depression by a third.
5. Walking Stimulates Endorphins. Just ten minutes of walking is enough to start your brain releasing endorphins, the brain chemicals that lower stress, boost your mental health, and make you feel good. You’ve heard of the runner’s high? Well, you can get a similar positive rush from a brisk walk!
6. Walking Releases the Brain’s Magic Protein. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) has been dubbed the brain’s ‘magic protein’ as it helps to rewire and build new neural pathways. Scientists believe it can even help lower your risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. And cardiovascular exercise is an easy way to stimulate the production of BDNF and keep your brain in peak condition.
7. Walking Builds Hippocampus Strength. Your hippocampus is the key part of the brain for forming and storing memories. Research has shown that even brief walks can increase the size and efficiency of your hippocampus.
8. Walking Increases Blood Flow to the Brain. Blood is vital for every organ in your body, not least of all, your brain. That magic twenty-minutes is all it takes to increase the blood flow to your brain to keep it active and healthy.
Thank you for reading the 8 ways walking helps our brainpower. If you enjoyed this article, please show your love and share it with others. I’d appreciate it. See you next time. Stay safe. 🙂
Walking is all I can do due to my health issues so it’s great to read about all these benefits of it.
I have found that walking has helped with my depression, yes. I am not sure if I would be half as motivated to get out of bed and do it if it wasn’t for my ridiculously energetic puppy essentially forcing me outside. I am so glad. As you pointed out, so many benefits!
Wonderful post on benefits of walking especially for the brain!
I totally agree with you!
Very informative post. So many benefits we can get by walking exercises. That’s why we feel good after a long walk.
I love walking and hiking. It’s very relaxing and a great exercise for both mind and body.
I love walking it makes me feel a lot happier and I also think of lots of great ideas when I am out. I’ve not been much over the last 2 weeks as I’ve been off work and my husband has been talking the dog out early. I can not wait to start getting back into a walking routine again from tomorrow.
Going for daily walks has been my saving grace the past 6 months, and a huge stress reliever. Now that we have a dog, I take multiple walks per day and I’ve definitely noticed a change in my mood.
Ever since lockdown began I’ve been getting my daily walks in and they have really helped me so much mentally through all this. So good to know about all these benefits!
I love walking as I can’t jog or run and it is good to know it has so many health benefits. I like that it increases blood flow to your brain and helps store memories.
I just love this post and my daughter and I go walking 4 or 5 times a week. I do love it and did not realize the abundant amount of benefits that walking provides other than just being active and burning some calories. It is also a therapy session for us as we catch each other up on what we did that day or the day before. It is always a blast and helps to de stress and we just love it!