WALKING FACTS AND BENEFITS
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
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More than 60 percent of all adults in the United States do not engage in the recommended amount of physical activity. This lack of regular physical exercise can lead to illness and chronic diseases down the road. Regular, brisk walking is one of the simplest and safest forms of physical exercise. Here are same facts and benefits about walking.image source
#1 Decreasing the risk of a heart attack
Walking helps lower lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) and raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ("good" cholesterol). Regular exercise can also help keep your blood pressure in check, and reduces your risk of blood clots and irregular heartbeats.image source
#2 Reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
For individuals with type 2 diabetes, regular exercise may help decrease the amount of insulin or other medications needed to control their condition.image source
#3 Helping to control weight
Taking a brisk, one-hour walk burns approximately 400 calories for the average person.image source
#4 Improving muscle tone
Walking leads to lean, toned muscles, and keeps bones and joints in shape, minimizing the effects of osteoporosis and arthritis.image source
#5 It helps you cope at work
Research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) showed the benefits of the great outdoors by measuring responses to stress during and after viewing nature in both simulated and real environments.image source
#6 It might be better for you than running
According to one study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, a brisk walk can reduce the risk of heart disease more effectively than running.image source
#7 It helps you concentrate
Lightweight brain-scanning devices were strapped to the heads of 12 people who were then sent on a walk through Edinburgh. The results showed that while busy, built-up areas induced frustration and irritation in the participants, green and parkland sections led to the brain becoming calmer and more meditative.image source
#8 It ‘heals’ your brain
It lets your mind off the hook for a while; going for a walk allows your brain to roam along with your body.image source
#9 It makes you more creative
Dr Sowden of the School of Psychology at the University of Surrey writes: “Walking has been shown to improve our ability to shift between modes of thought, and to improve our attention, memory and recovery from mental fatigue, all of which are important for thinking creatively”.image source
#10 It can treat depression
A study by the University of Stirling on a sample of 341 patients showed a brisk walk was “an effective intervention for depression" and had a similar effect to other, more vigorous forms of exercise.image source
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Keep walking and be healthy...
