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The Benefits Of Walking
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The Benefits of Walking
Luckily, reversing the problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle is relatively simple: just go for a walk. If the problem is sitting still too often, then walking is by its very nature is the simplest solution. As Kathy Bowman, the author Move Your DNA: Restore Your Health Through Natural Movement so perfectly put it: “Walking is a superfood. It is the defining human movement.”
It’s pretty amazing how many health benefits can be attributed to the simple act of using your body the way it is meant to be used.
A simple 20-25 minute walk through your neighborhood is all it takes to ward off so many of these problems. As forms of exercise go, walking is not as rigorous as, say, using a rowing machine or lifting free weights, but if all you did was go for a short walk every day, you’d be far, far better off than someone who doesn’t do any physical activity at all.
The benefits of walking include lowered blood pressure, and a lowered risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. A study involving men over age 60 showed that regular walking dramatically lowered their risk of a stroke.
Walking also improves your mood. This is due to the release of endorphins, natural pain-killing chemicals which are released during physical activity. This is what produces the sensation known as a “runner’s high.” It can be triggered by walking, too; it just takes longer. Endorphins released during any form of exercise act as a natural anti-depressant and improve your overall sense of wellbeing.
READ ALSO: Why You Need To Start Doing Water Workouts
There is no downside to using your body the way it was meant to be used. A simple walk down the street is all it takes to get you started on a healthy lifestyle. No matter how out of shape you may be, walking will benefit you; like that old saying goes, the journey of thousand miles begins with one step. In this case, we mean that quite literally.
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