Do you think that if you can’t go running 5 times a week or spend a lot of time working out in the gym, you might as well forget about health benefits from exercise? Not at all! This might be an unusual homemade recipe for beauty, but walking is grossly underestimated to improve health and looks. How can walking improve your health and complexion?

Walking for beautiful skin

A brisk walk is one of the best forms of exercise to improve blood circulation and skin tone. The color, brightness, and rosiness of your skin determine if your skin has an appealing “glow,” which is a sign of good health. As walking stimulates circulation your therefore get a rosier skin that looks healthier and more beautiful.

Studies show that walking keeps bones strong, preventing osteoporosis. It builds strength, flexibility, stamina, and promotes weight loss and weight maintenance. Additionally, walking improves sleep, enhances mental function, and can even help to counteract depression. All this is reflected in your complexion–you’ll look healthier and more appealing.

Other health benefits

Researchers found that a 15-minute walk brings more relief from anxiety and tension than a mild tranquilizer! Like other physical activities, walking triggers the release of endorphins, brain chemicals that relieve pain and stimulate relaxation, producing a sense of calm and well-being.

Even a leisurely stroll can produce health benefits. Walking as little as half a mile a day reduces mortality. Exercising three times in a day, for 10 minutes each time, will do you almost as much good as exercising continuously for 30 minutes. Try parking farther away from your destination and walking the rest of the way. Or go for a short walk sometime during the day.

Even greater benefits can come from brisk walking-you burn more calories and fat. Going from being sedentary to walking briskly for a half hour several days a week can help you lose weight and drop your risk of disease dramatically.

How to do a good workout

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Use flexible, lightweight shoes with a cushioned low heel and roomy toe box. Warm up by walking at an easy pace for the first five minutes. Maintain an upright posture, keeping the elbows and knees slightly bent and hands cupped, not clenched.

After warming up, fall into a natural, brisk stride in which the heel of the foot strikes the ground first, rolling through the step to the toes. Your pace should allow you to carry on a full conversation without getting breathless. Cool down by slowing your pace near the end of your walk.
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