Forget that 10K: 4,400 steps a day is enough

Are you obsessively measuring every day with that step counter to see if you reach the recommended 10K steps? No longer necessary: 10,000 steps are no longer the ideal.

More than enough
Because according to new research from Harvard, 4,400 steps a day is just enough to experience the health benefits of walking. The researchers studied the step habits of 20,000 women and found that 10,000 is not perfect at all. And 9,000 is not enough either: much less. Almost half is enough, as at this average number of steps, the mortality rate decreases by 41 percent.

Unhealthy
Moreover: people who consistently walk much more throughout their lives might actually be unhealthier as a result. Then the mortality rate rises again. People who walk extremely much and exaggerate due to the pressure of step counters can even suffer from injuries to their hips, knees, or feet, warns Professor David Stensel from Loughborough University.

And what might be even crazier is that always having to reach that number of steps can be addictive. Especially if you constantly check that app or your Fitbit. It has been researched, and scientists are not happy with all this measuring and knowing nowadays. ‘By tracking everything, you become addicted to movement.’ Especially women are susceptible to this. ‘They can socially isolate themselves from friends and family and become restless if they move too little,’ say scientists.

So if you are obsessively focused on always having to reach that 10,000: just go back to being normal. Take your walk with your dog, with your children, or whatever, and move, every day again. Of course, sitting is not better, and a bit of walking is nice too. But you really don't have to jump around and do jumping jacks in your bathroom at night just because you feel you must hit that 10,000. 4,400 is the new 10K, we're just telling you. And that makes a difference. Hop, onto the couch.

Source: Daily Mail