Walking is one of the best ways to enhance your overall fitness and health. According to experts, apart from reducing the risk of chronic diseases, including heart issues and diabetes, it also enhances cognitive impairment.
And that said, there are several benefits to walking at a certain time of day – morning or evening – depending on your health and fitness goals.
Why should you walk in the morning?
Taking a walk in the morning can be done for many reasons:
Weight management
If you regularly go for walks in the morning hours on an empty stomach, it can help your body to burn fat at a much more efficient rate than later in the day, when you have eaten several meals.
Morning walking and the way it burns fat are beneficial for those living with obesity.
Strengthening the brain
Morning walks help you overcome the harmful impact of sitting for a longer time when it comes to proper blood flow to the brain in older adults who are overweight and obese.
Improving energy levels
Walking first thing in the morning helps raise levels of cortisol, which helps you keep alert and energised.
Regulates sleep
Morning walks are great for sleep regulation, as they help release melatonin, a hormone that influences sleep.
Balances blood sugar
If you eat something and go for a walk, it can help you balance your blood sugar levels. According to a study, getting up for a walk right after you finish eating has such an effect on glycemic scores in your body that it could potentially prevent both low-grade inflammation and heart disease.
Benefits of walking in the evening
Even if you take a walk in the evening, it can be equally beneficial, depending on what your health goals are:
Stress reduction
Walking in the evening helps alleviate feelings of stress and tension, promoting a sense of ease, as workouts are great to keep your mind off stress. According to experts, even though the results may not specifically be for evening walks, most people tend to be more stressed at the end of the day than at the beginning.
Improved mood for urban folks
Those living in the cities enjoy evening walks to improve their mood.
A few other potential benefits of evening walks include:
- Reducing anxiety and depression
- Reducing blood pressure
- Improved lipid and other inflammatory markers
How do you choose the best time for you?
According to experts, the best way to know what the best time for you for maximum benefits is to consider your health goals and schedule.
Even though walking is highly beneficial, the most important aspect is to choose a time that encourages consistency. Staying consistent in an exercise or walking routine will ensure that you reap the health benefits in both the short and long-t