Forget 10,000 steps: This daily walking goal can help lower your heart disease risk
Walking your way to better health may not require quite as many steps as you think. While 10,000 steps per day has become an oft-cited goal, two recent research studies found that far fewer steps are associated with a variety of health benefits—so long as you pick up the pace or increase your daily step count. Even walking less than 5,000 steps per day, but at a faster pace, lowers the risk of…
Recent studies suggest that walking just 1,000 steps, at a brisk pace, can significantly lower the risk of death, heart failure, and heart attacks. While 10,000 steps per day is a common goal, this research indicates that even walking less than 5,000 steps per day at an increased pace can provide benefits. The optimal pace for lowering health risks is approximately 100 steps per minute for 30 minutes a day, or about one mile in 20 to 25 minutes.
For those who cannot walk as swiftly, increasing daily steps at a slower pace may also be beneficial. These findings support the notion that walking is one of the most accessible and effective forms of exercise for overall health. Experts emphasize that even small increases in daily walking can make a significant difference, recommending that individuals aim to add more walking to their routine for improved health outcomes.
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