New Japanese Walking Hack Burns More Fat Than 10,000 Steps
Dave Asprey
Nov 9, 2025
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Avoid chronic cardio to enhance fat loss
Unlike walking, chronic mid-intensity cardio like running on a treadmill can be counterproductive for fat loss because it spikes the stress hormone cortisol, which makes it harder to burn fat.
Breathe in terpenes by walking in nature for stress relief
Walking outdoors allows you to breathe in natural compounds from trees called terpenes, which lower stress hormone levels and make your immune system work better.
Implement Japanese interval walking for effective fat burning
A scientifically proven method to burn fat more effectively than walking 10,000 steps is to alternate between three minutes of brisk walking and three minutes of slow walking for 3-5 cycles.
Choose Tru Kava for a healthier social experience
Tru Kava is an alcohol alternative that calms the nervous system and enhances social connection by increasing GABA, dopamine, and serotonin without destroying sleep or metabolic health.
Maximize light exposure by ditching sunglasses during outdoor walks
Leave your sunglasses off during at least part of your outdoor walk to maximize light exposure, which sends a direct circadian signal to your brain and aids Vitamin D synthesis.
Vary walking pace to enhance fat loss effectiveness
Walking at one slow or fast steady pace is ineffective for fat loss because your body adapts, stops improving, and the metabolic enzymes that burn fat stay at their baseline.
Breathe through your nose to enhance oxygen efficiency
Practice nasal breathing while walking to stay oxygen-efficient and engage your parasympathetic nervous system, allowing you to recover even while you walk.
Train recovery with HeartMath Inner Balance device
The HeartMath Inner Balance device actively trains your body's recovery by improving heart rate variability (HRV), unlike most devices that only track it.
