Happy New Year! Are you ready to make 2014 the best year yet? Well journey of a thousand miles begins with 1 step, and walking is a great way to protect your heart.
According to results published in The Lancet, scientists are reporting that walking an additional 2,000 steps per day, equivalent to 20 minutes of moderate-paced walking, can help to lower the chances of developing heart problems.
All of the volunteers were assigned to a program to lose weight and exercise 150 minutes a week. They were given pedometers that they wore at the beginning of the study, and again 1 year later. Those who walked an additional 2,000 steps a day on average over the year, above the initial requirement of 150 minutes of exercise per week, had a 10% lower risk of heart problems by the end of the year.