Fare a daily walk is not only a good habit for physical health but also a powerful ally against depression. Several studies have shown that regular physical activity, even of low intensity such as walking, can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and increase life expectancy.§
But the benefit goes beyond the body: the mind it takes advantage of itwith positive effects on depression and psychological well -being in general. A recent meta -analysis, published on the pages of the magazine Jama Network Openhas quantified this impact with very clear data.
Walking is better than a drug: the results of the study
Analyze 33 studies, for a total of over 96 thousand people involved, scholars of the Universidad de Castilla-la Mancha They tried to verify the correlation between the number of daily steps and the reduction of depressive symptoms. The study confirmed that also moderate physical activity can be an effective strategy to combat depression.
Walking is a natural antidepressant: here are the data that confirm it
Compared to a sedentary lifestyle, already reach the 5,000 steps per day is associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms. But improvement becomes significant by exceeding 7,500 steps, threshold beyond which the risk of depression falls up to 42%. Furthermore, Every 1,000 more steps are associated with a further reduction of 9% in the risk of developing the pathology.
An activity within everyone’s reach
One of the most interesting aspects of the study is that walking is an activity within everyone’s reach, without the need for equipment or registration in the gym. It is particularly suitable for the elderly and for those with a sedentary lifestyle, offering benefits without the risk of excessively stirring the body. Although the exact number of steps to take to obtain maximum benefit can vary on the basis of individual age and conditions, the message is clear: keeping active helps to protect mental health.
For more information Read here The deepening on the Magazine of the Veronesi Foundation
I woman © RESERVED REPRODUCTION