If you hate to run, but you want to burn those extra calories you will be happy to learn that walking has the same effects. Moreover, walking also relieves stress, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes. Therefore, if you struggle to find motivation to run, and you’ve always thought that walking is not so effective in burning calories and improving your health, set those fears aside.
Reasons Why Walking Is Better and Healthier than Running
1. Running Is Hard on Your Heart
A research has shown that after one marathon the runners had elevated markers of a certain triplet of proteins called troponin, which is a main component of the heart muscle. If the levels of troponin are elevated it can lead to cardiovascular damage. Runners also have a greater risk of myocardial damage and damage to heart and muscle cells.
2. Running Can Damage Your Bones and Joints
Long running puts a lot of pressure on the joints of your legs. After certain point, runners have a greater risk of injuries and osteoarthritis. Running also results in irreversible articular cartilage damage. And not only that, but despite burning calories, running also decreases your muscle mass. Therefore, if you want to build muscles, running is not a great cardio workout.
3. Running Causes Hormonal Imbalance
Runners also have increased levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. High levels of this hormone activate your food cravings and you want to substitute your burnt calories with food. And not only that, but you also end up overeating. Moreover, the feeling of hunger increases your insulin levels and you gain more weight. Running also negatively affects your thyroid gland due to the increased levels of cortisol. Improper function of the thyroid gland causes problems with your metabolism and can lead to many serious health issues.
4. Running Causes Stress to Your Immune System
Runners who run long distance are more susceptible to developing infections. That is because running, along with the calories, it burns muscle tissue and that burdens the immune system of the body.
5. Running in Hot Weather Can Lead to Stroke
We usually run when it is warm outside, especially in the summer, so we can sweat more and burn more fat. However, running in hot weather can lead to dysfunction of many organs and cause stroke. Although walking in the sun is also dangerous, the chance of developing organ failure is less likely than with running.
Walking Is Definitely a Better Alternative
A 30-60-minute walk three times a week can significantly improve your health and help you lose weight. Moreover, you will not put pressure on your joints, cause heart damage or stroke, and you will not cause hormonal imbalance in your body. Instead, walking will relax you without putting too much pressure and stressing out your entire body. However, you should combine it with proper nutritious plan that will supply your organism with enough fiber, proteins, vitamins, minerals and many other necessary nutrients. Your diet should include fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, eggs, grains and seeds and everything should be organic and prepared in a healthy way.
