Neither 1,000 nor 5,000: the number of steps you should take per day to be healthy

Physical activity is a fundamental part of life , not only for staying healthy and contributing to our overall physical well-being, but also for improving mental health and reducing stress. But how many steps should you take per day? Learn the stipulated number and how you can maximize its benefits.

While simply getting active and choosing to move over a sedentary lifestyle is already a significant step toward improving health, specialists say there's a set number of steps taken daily that can significantly improve your quality of life.

For a long time, it was believed that walking 10,000 miles a day was the goal for any active person; however, science has discovered that even with less than 4,000 miles, changes in the body are already noticeable.

According to the BBC , teams from the Medical University of Lodz in Poland and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the US found that the benefits of walking apply to all genders and ages, regardless of where they live.

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Simply being active reduces the risk of dying prematurely from any cause. The greatest beneficiaries in this regard are people over 60.

The idea of ​​walking 10,000 steps a day was popularized in Japan in the 1960s, when a pedometer manufacturer launched a device called the "manpo-kei," meaning "10,000-step meter."

Since then, this goal has been adopted globally as an achievable target for improving overall health, but any goal is valid as long as it is practiced consistently and with conviction.

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What are the benefits of walking every day?

It's estimated that 10,000 steps is equivalent to walking between 7 and 8 kilometers, depending on the length of each person's stride. At the same time, this distance can help burn between 300 and 500 calories, taking into account weight and speed. Other benefits include:

1. Improves cardiovascular health:

Reduces the risk of heart disease.

2. Weight control:

Helps burn calories and maintain a healthy weight.

3. Improves mood:

Physical activity releases endorphins that help reduce stress and anxiety.

4. Increases energy:

Walking regularly improves stamina and vitality.

5. Improves bone and muscle health:

Strengthens bones and muscles, helping to prevent osteoporosis and improve posture.

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