This One Simple Tip Can Make Your Daily Walk 10x Healthier

An outdoor stroll is a great way to get in some daily movement and embrace the fresh air. Even if it's just for 10 to 15 minutes a day, this activity can have a significant impact on both your mental and physical health.

Now, if you're looking to maximize that daily walk, listen closely: As award-winning writer and walking expert Annabel Streets shared on the mindbodygreen podcast, all you need to do is start humming. 

First things first: If you choose to hum a tune while you're walking, you'll be forced to breathe solely through your nose. And nasal breathing, as you may know, is important for lung health and immune function. "Your nose has the most extraordinary filtration system1," Streets says. "It manages to filter out the pollution and pathogens," which is especially helpful if you're walking in a big, bustling city.

Nasal breathing also releases nitric oxide, which is a molecule that plays an essential role in increasing circulation and delivering oxygen to the cells. "It's been linked to good lung health and immunity, and it helps just push blood and oxygen all the way around your body and up to your brain," says Streets. The amount of nitric oxide in the body can also influence metabolic health, mood, and sexual function. So yeah, you could say it's a pretty important molecule. 

And guess what? Humming makes nitric oxide even more powerful. "If you want to increase the amount of nitric oxide your nasal cells make, you just need to hum as you're walking," Streets explains. In fact, research shows that humming leads to a 15-fold increase in nitric oxide levels.