Worth Its Benefits in Gold!
The benefits of any exercise depends on the intensity, the duration, and the frequency of doing it. Walking is one of those exercises that is worth its benefits in gold!
More than 2,400 years ago, Hippocrates said, “Walking is a man’s best medicine.” Everyone should be walking, if they can, every day. It is easy to do – walk around the house, walk up the stairs (get off an elevator early or skip the escalators).
The American Heart Association recommends that healthy adults do moderate-intensity exercise (such as brisk walking) for at least 30 minutes five days of the week, or intense aerobic exercise (such as running) for at least 20 minutes three days each week. Ref: americanheart.org
Why Is It Worth Its Benefits In Gold?
Walking improves cardiac risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, vascular stiffness, inflammation, and mental stress. It also helps protect against dementia, peripheral artery disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, colon cancer, and even erectile dysfunction.
Get Started Walking
One of the nicest things about walking is that you don’t need any special skill, lessons or tools. Comfortable shoes or sneakers definitely help, though. Also, be sure to walk in a place that is safe for pedestrians.
Make walking part of your daily life. Do you use public transportation? Get off a bus or subway one stop earlier. Or walk around your neighborhood. Walk with a friend. Walk from the bedroom, to the bathroom, to the kitchen and back again – turn on some music.
Just Walk!
Tools for Walking
There are now many smartphone apps to track your daily walking, many of which are free. At a minimum they can record your distance, time and calories. Some can count your steps and even give you quick pep talk.
Health Reminder
Get a checkup before starting any new exercise program.
If you have heart problems, your doctor may want to perform tests to find out how much exercise you can safely do. Start out slowly and increase gradually.
Ready, set, walk!
To quote the American Heart Association (AHA): There are countless physical activities out there, but walking has the lowest dropout rate of them all! Go to StartWalkingNow.Org to get started today.
