For most of us, walking is a natural part of our daily lives. But did you know that it’s best to walk 10,000 steps, or about five miles, every day?
Our bodies are designed for frequent movement, but the average American spends over eight hours of their day sitting. Yet sitting for more than eight hours a day is associated with an increased risk of death from virtually all ailments, including stroke, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Setting a goal of walking 10,000 steps each day gets you up and out of your chair. And unlike strength and interval training, which require recovery times, walking can be done every day. Many people do not do close to 10,000 steps, however, so using a wearable fitness tracker or a pedometer can inspire you to increase your daily steps.