A daily 21-minute walk can lower heart disease risk by 30%, according to a Harvard Health report highlighted in HuffPost's latest wellness article.
The report says walking also reduces risks tied to diabetes and cancer, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and helps counter the harms of prolonged sitting.
Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Tamanna Singh said regular walking benefits people across ages and risk profiles, from prevention in healthy adults to support for those with high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity.
Even very short walks can help: a 2014 University of Utah study found each minute of brisk walking cut women's obesity risk by 5%, supporting advice to start small and build a consistent habit.
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