A short walk is simply good for everything. You don't have to torture yourself in an expensive fitness studio or pant through the park with other joggers - a very simple walk does the trick. Various studies have shown how much such a stroll can help against cancer, back pain, osteoporosis and even depression. So, health and exercise are just a step away from your front door!

1. health and exercise put you in a good mood

There are few better ways to relieve stress than a walk around the neighborhood. Biochemical processes play a role here that have a positive effect on our immune system and our psyche. When we walk, the body releases more hormones that improve our mood. In addition, walking is almost meditative: the movement happens almost automatically, you breathe deeply and clear your head.

2. exercise is healthy and reduces the risk of heart attack

A study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California found that walking for half an hour a day reduces the risk of heart disease and significantly lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

3. protects against many different types of cancer

Cancer researchers in Heidelberg compared various studies on health and exercise and found that walking prevents the risk of cancer of the colon, breast, uterus, pancreas and lungs - by 20 to 30 percent.

4. makes bones strong and prevents fractures

Walking around the block once a day also promotes the strength of your bones and thus prevents bone loss in old age. Just like muscles, bones need training to prevent them from breaking down. Numerous studies have also proven this.

5. makes back pain slowly disappear

Walking two to three times a week helps with lower back pain just as well as physiotherapy. Israeli scientists have been able to prove this. This is because the abdominal and back muscles are addressed in the same way as in muscle-building programs.

6. burns calories and helps you lose weight

Amazing, but scientifically proven: A long walk burns almost as many calories as jogging. However, the risk of injury is much lower when walking and there is less strain on the joints. Another advantage: a walk hardly costs any effort - ten kilometers of jogging, on the other hand, certainly does. And yet the risk of diabetes decreases and blood pressure improves.