Walking that you do every day can protect your health.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—At this point, you’d have to be living under a rock to not know that regular physical activity confers many health benefits, from decreased risk of chronic disease to a stronger heart, reduced stress, and better brain health. So why isn’t everyone active? Maybe because of the stubborn public perception that physical activity has to be hard work or it's not worth it. But a new study proves once again that moderate, everyday exercise—the kind that you may not even think of as exercise—is important for staying healthy.

THE DETAILS: In the ongoing Women’s Health Study, which looks at more than 39,000 women and began in 1991, Harvard researchers recently looked at the effect of physical activity on stroke risk. They found that during a 12-year period, 579 women suffered a stroke. Interestingly, vigorous physical activity like jogging or swimming conferred no protective benefit against stroke (nor did it increase risk). Whereas walking and other leisure-time activities did seem to decrease stroke risk.

Keep reading to see how much exercise you really need to protect your health.