Brisk Walking vs. Running

According to medical experts, the benefits of brisk walking are similar to those of running. They say that there is no real difference until we keep a long distance. The both activities show similar effects on heart health and reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. They also decrease the risk of diabetes. The only difference is in time we spend by doing a particular activity. Therefore, brisk walking is a more time-consuming activity, while running help us perform a healthy activity for less time. According to a new study, people who regularly walk or run have a lower risk for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, and at the same time, get better immunity and less stress in their lives. Even though the both activities show similar effects on our health, the study reveals that walking has a twice favorable rate on our cholesterol level and blood pressure. On the other hand, medical experts warn us that if we want to lose weight, walking will not make us closer to desired results. For that purpose, we need more intense activity such as running. To find out more about losing weight through running, the article “What’s Better for Weight Loss? Long Walk vs. Quick Run” gives us some interesting tips.

Whether you walk or run, instead of keeping a consistent pace, an even better option is to incorporate speed intervals. Every minute of sprinting at 8.5 mph not only burns 13 calories (as compared to 4 calories at 4 mph and 9 calories at 6 mph), but will also help diminish belly fat faster. Or, if sprinting isn’t your thing, add incline. A 60-minute walk at 4 mph with a 10 percent incline burns 567 calories! If you’d rather pick up the pace and jog at 6 mph for 30 minutes with a 5 percent incline, then you’ll burn 363 calories.

Running and walking also have beneficial effects on our bones. Namely, within aging our bones lose their density, and we need to do something that will slow the process. Recent studies have proven the positive effects of cardio training on our bones. Similarly, various cardio activities influence our life span. According to experts, they can prolong our life span for significant 30 percent. What is more impressive is the high percentage of decrease in coronary artery disease in people who do their cardio training regularly. For them, the risk of coronary artery disease decreases by 41%. Whatever cardio activity we choose will improve our mood, our mobility and the quality of life. Whether we choose brisk walk or running, the results will be beneficial until we keep long distances.