Take a walk outside every day

The benefits of a daily walk are almost endless, and most of them are great for our hearts.

“There are lots of reasons why I’d recommend walking every day for heart health,” says Dr Zoe Watson, GP and founder of wellbeing platform Wellgood Wellbeing. “A daily walk reduces many of the risk factors that can lead to heart disease. Walking lowers blood pressure, reduces the risk of diabetes and lowers cholesterol by boosting levels of HDL [high-density lipoprotein, sometimes known as ‘good cholesterol’], which in turn lowers levels of LDL [low-density lipoprotein, aka ‘bad cholesterol’] in the blood.”

If your walk happens to be in the countryside, that’s even better. Exercising in nature is a proven mood-booster, lowering stress levels and enhancing overall health and wellbeing. Best of all – wherever you walk, it’s totally free.

5 easy steps for better heart health, from being more optimistic to a daily walk