Think walking is just the “easy” form of exercise? Think again. From improving creativity to strengthening your heart and even supporting your brain, a simple walk might be one of the most underrated things you can do for your health.
Whether you’re running upstairs in desperate need of the loo or chasing down the bus so you’re not late for work (again… oops!), walking—especially at a brisk pace—has some surprising health benefits that you might never have realised. I certainly didn’t for a long time. It was only after speaking with a doctor and doing some research of my own that I discovered just how powerful something as simple as walking can be.
So, without further ado, let me enlighten you. Your sexy Saturday spin class might just have to take a hike!
1. Did you know that your calf muscles are often called your “second heart”?
Your calf muscles play a vital role in helping your heart circulate blood around the body. Every time you walk, the muscles contract and squeeze the deep veins in your lower legs, pushing oxygen-depleted blood upwards against gravity and back towards your heart.
The stronger your calf muscles become, the more effectively they can assist this process. Walking uphill, increasing your pace, or adding resistance with a weighted vest can all help strengthen your calves over time. Other effective exercises include standing heel raises, seated heel raises and single-leg hops.
2. Did you know that walking on uneven terrain can benefit your brain?
Research from Harvard Medical School and other neuroscience studies suggests that brisk walking for around 40 minutes, three times a week, can increase the volume of the hippocampus—the part of the brain involved in learning and memory. The key is walking at an intensity that reaches an aerobic threshold.
But there’s another interesting twist. The terrain you walk on may also matter.
Walking on uneven ground, changing trails or navigating natural obstacles forces your brain to solve spatial problems, maintain balance and process constantly changing sensory information. This extra mental challenge may help strengthen and reinforce the neural pathways that aerobic exercise helps to create.
So next time, instead of automatically stepping onto the treadmill, why not head for a woodland trail instead? Your brain might thank you for it.
3. Did you know that walking can unlock a 60% boost in divergent thinking?
In a landmark study conducted by researchers at Stanford University, the simple act of walking was found to boost divergent thinking by an average of 60%—even if participants were simply walking indoors on a treadmill.
This appears to happen for several reasons:
- Increased blood flow: Rhythmic movement raises your heart rate, delivering more oxygen-rich blood to the brain, which supports cognitive function.
- Default Mode Network activation: Repetitive movement allows your mind to wander more freely, helping it make unexpected connections between ideas.
- Reduced prefrontal control: Walking temporarily reduces activity in parts of the prefrontal cortex, lowering rigid mental filters and allowing more flexible, creative thinking.
So, with all that in mind, I hope these fascinating benefits have encouraged you to lace up your trainers and head outside for a walk. Your body—and your brain—will thank you.
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