Health Benefits of Taking More Steps Every Day

After nearly 30 years of working as a New York City bus driver, Barry Baldwin left his job with the Metropolitan Transit Authority in 2014. Since retiring, Barry Baldwin remains at his home in Brooklyn, New York, and spends his time biking and going for short daily walks to stay fit.

Due to the increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles, the average American adult takes less than 6,000 steps per day. However, increasing the number of steps to 10,000 per day has a host of health benefits:

1. Body strength - Low impact exercises like walking can build bone and muscle strength. Walking also challenges the lungs, which boosts oxygen production and increases stamina.

2. Heart health - People who walk more have hearts that can pump out more blood, which lowers their risk of cardiovascular diseases. Daily moderate exercise also lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.

3. Better mood - Engaging in more movement naturally fights fatigue and promotes the release of mood-boosting neurotransmitters such as dopamine. Exercise is also associated with lower stress levels.

Research that Proves the Powerful Health Benefits of Walking

A long-time resident of New York, Barry Baldwin served in the community as a bus operator with NYC Transit Authority for nearly three decades. Barry Baldwin of New York enjoys a range of personal interests including listening to music, working out with weights, bike riding, and walking five miles each week.

According to research findings, walking regularly significantly reduces the risk of chronic diseases and other health conditions. Below are some of the main benefits of walking.

Walking for only 21 minutes per day, or 2.5 hours each week, lowers the risk of developing heart disease by 30 percent. Scientists at the University of Tennessee and the University of Boulder Colorado determined that regular walking may also lower the risk of stroke by 20-40% while reducing blood pressure by as many as 11 points. 

Regular walking is believed to help prevent diabetes, cancer, and obesity. A study conducted by the University of Utah in 2014 determined that women lowered their risk for obesity by five percent for each minute of brisk walking they performed.