Walking for your brain health

Physical activity is good for your body and also good for your brain.  Cardiovascular activity improves the function of your brain and helps you focus.  If done regularly, it helps grow new cells in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning.  The hippocampus converts events and experiences into long-term memory and helps us form new memories. 

Walking is one such activity that is perfect as it is a low intensity exercise.  Better still is if you quicken the steps to make it an aerobic activity.  Walk at a fast pace that increases your heart rate but still allows you to hold a conversation so you don’t tire quickly.  This speed of walking has a better positive effect on your brain function than a long, slow stroll.

A leisurely stroll does not carry the same benefits as an aerobic, heart-pumping walk, especially for the brain.  The pace of your walk is more essential to your brain health than the number of steps.