Easy “Step” Reduces Early Death Risk!

This magic number makes the difference

I love a good workout, and I like to push myself to the max. 

But you don’t have to break a sweat to get the benefits of exercise. 

All you need to do is take a walk. 

Walking decreases your risk of depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and arthritis. 

It even reduces your risk of a premature death. 

But how far — or for how long — should you walk to gain the greatest benefits? 

A new study found that the number of steps you take is more important than how far — or how intense — your walk is. 

So, what’s the magic number? 

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that for people from 41-65 years old, the risk of premature death was 50-70 percent lower in those who walked 7,000 or more steps per day. 

The intensity of the steps (meaning how fast you’re walking) had no connection to mortality risk — just the number! 

That’s great news because most people can reach 7,000 steps in a day. 

People used to believe that 10,000 steps was ideal. The problem is that those numbers aren’t attainable for a lot of people… so they don’t even try. 

But another study confirmed that you don’t have to hit the 10,000 mark to gain substantial benefits. 

It showed that people who took 8,000 steps per day decreased their risk of dying from heart disease and cancer, compared to those who only walked 4,000 steps. 

Most people take between 3,000-4,000 steps per day without even trying.  

Doubling that number — getting up to 7,000+ steps — is doable, but it does take effort. 

One of the best ways to ensure that you’re getting your steps in is to go out and take a walk! If you can walk during the Golden Hour after sunrise or sunset, you’ll be getting the added benefits from the sun. 

And if you want to make sure you’re getting in the minimum number of steps, technology makes it easier than ever. 

From apps you can load onto your phone, to pedometers you can wear on your wrist, new technologies take the guesswork out of your step count. 

Remember, it doesn’t have to be far, intense, or all at once. It’s the cumulative number that counts.