Despite the dirty weather: 7 good reasons for a walk

1 Good for the heart A brisk walk of half an hour a day lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. This was the result of a study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California.

2 Good for the skin Fresh air promotes blood circulation and brings oxygen to the epidermal cells. The skin becomes smooth and supple and impurities disappear.

3 Good for sleep A walk after dinner lets the stress of the day fall away from us, the lungs can breathe deeply, problems and worries of the day become less important, thoughts also wander a little. Sleep comes naturally.

4 Good for stress A walk during your lunch break clears your head and blows away all the superfluous thoughts. Sometimes work-related problems solve themselves.

5 Good for your bones Walking around the square once a day prevents osteoporosis and joint problems. It strengthens the muscles and is also good for the tendons and ligaments.

6 Good for the back An Israeli study found that regular walking strengthens the back muscles in a similar way to physiotherapy.

7 Good against cancer Cancer researchers in Heidelberg found that regular walking reduces the risk of various types of cancer by 20 to 30 percent.