If you want to learn one of the best overall ways to improve your overall fitness and achieve great health at 50 and after that, it’s on foot. This type of low-impact physical activity can weigh and you can do it wherever you are, and whenever is most convenient for you. Going for a walk is also a great time to get into the great outdoors for some fresh air and great scenery. All you need is a pair to support you well-fitting athletic shoes and a water bottle to stay hydrated while doing those steps! Read on to find out exactly what a daily walking habit does to your body after 50, according to science.
Giving a walk briskly for an easy 30 minutes each day has extraordinary health benefits. And the more time you spend walking, the better your overall well-being will be. If you are wondering what a daily walking habit does for your body after 50, the list of benefits is truly endless. Some of the benefits include reduce body fatimproved balance, stronger bones and musclesreduced risk of stroke and heart disease, and increased cardiovascular endurance and fitness, according to Better Health Channel.
Not only is going for a walk an extraordinary stress reliever, but it’s also great for your joints, Shape reports. It can be quite a social activity, which is always a powerful gift of self-care. “Walking can reduce your stress levels by giving you a break from your daily stresses and help you be more alert,” explains the psychotherapist Courtney Glashow, LCSWfounder of Anchor Therapy LLC (via Shape).
Related: Slim down and get toned with this 15-minute walking workout
A study of inactive women showed that minimal weekly exercise significantly increased their fitness.

The more steps you take, the better your overall health will be. A study of inactive women showed that exercising a minimal amount of exercise each week—a simple 75 minutes—increased the fitness level of all participants significantly compared to non-exercising participants observed (via Better Health Channel). Other study published in Health Promotion Perspectives The magazine found that going for a brisk 10-minute walk can give you an even faster mood boost.
According to Sharon Gam, Ph.D., CSCS, an exercise physiologist and certified strength and conditioning coach (via Shape), your front leg muscles do most of the work when you walk on an incline, while your back leg muscles work when you walk downhill. Building the strength and stability of your foot usually makes it much easier to perform all daily activities. By working on improving your leg strength through walking and reducing your risk of health conditions, you increase your ability to live a more independent and confident lifestyle in your 50s and beyond.
Alexa Mellardo
Alexa is the Deputy Mind + Body Editor of Eat This, Not That!, overseeing the M+B channel and delivering compelling fitness, wellness and self-care topics to readers. Read more about Alexa
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