When it comes to getting your steps in, there is more and more research coming out giving more practical and specific guidelines.
You’ve probably seen the guideline of hitting 10,000 steps per day. While that’s a great goal, it’s often unachievable depending on your level of fitness and time constraints.
(Plus, it’s also a kind of made up number that was created as part of a marketing campaign in the 60s. It’s not as though 10,0000 steps per day gives a specific benefit that other amounts of steps don’t.)
But just because you can’t hit 10,000 steps per day, doesn’t mean you can’t get the benefits of increased movement and activity.
You just need to make sure you’re getting enough, as there is a minimum effective dose to receive the countless benefits:
- Improved stress management
- Weight and body composition management
- Improved quality of sleep
- Better cognitive function and brain health
- Better heart and cardiovascular health
- Prevention of countless diseases
- And following the body’s golden rule of “move it or lose it”, movement is incredibly preventative for aches and pains, including hips, knees and low back.