Why walking is seen as actually better than running

 Healthy Wellbeing -   For decades, running was crowned king of fitness—worshipped for its sweat-soaked promise of vitality and endurance. The 1970s “running boom” swept America, with marathons and jogger’s high fueling a billion-dollar industry. Yet the promised utopia—where everyone could outrun heart disease and dodge old age—never fully arrived. Mounting injuries, burnout, and the sobering realization that most bodies aren’t built for chronic pounding led researchers and everyday exercisers to ask: If running isn’t the universal answer, what is?

As the 21st-century wellness movement matured, a quiet revolution emerged. The humble act of walking—long overshadowed by the cult of speed—began to reveal its secrets. Major health organizations, from the CDC to the Mayo Clinic, now champion walking as the blueprint for practical, lasting well-being. The “10,000 steps” craze, while arbitrary, opened the gates. But beneath the pop culture buzz, a trove of research began to stack up, revealing walking’s unique physiological and cognitive advantages.

Walking’s magic lies in its accessibility and the impressive breadth of its benefits. Regular walkers experience lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol, and reduced risk of heart disease—without the punishing impact of running. Studies from leading clinics and universities consistently show that brisk walking can cut your risk of diabetes, stroke, and even dementia. Unlike running, which can sideline participants with joint pain or overuse injuries, walking is a movement almost anyone can sustain for life, regardless of age or fitness background. Physicians now prescribe walking not just as exercise, but as preventive medicine for both mind and body.