gethealthy

Walking is a simple and great exercise.  It can help you to burn calories, increase circulation, reduce cancer risks, and ease insomnia.  These are great reasons why the medical community has been pushing walking for years.  Some more great reasons to walk are listed below.

1. Walking is great for your heart.  This is great news because heart disease is the leading cause of death in America.  One in every five deaths is attributed to heart disease.  A study recently conducted at Duke University showed that walking for at least 30 minutes daily can reduce the odds of developing a metabolic syndrome associated with heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

2. Walking is great for the breasts.  Walking for a few hours weekly can severely reduce the risk of breast cancer.   Walking helps to burn calories, thereby reducing body weight, a significant source of estrogen.  High amounts of estrogen have been linked to the development of breast cancer.  A study of post menopausal women age 50 to 79, reduced their likelihood of developing breast cancer by 30% if they were at a normal weight, and those that were over weight reduced their chances by 10-20%.

3. Walking can help reduce insomnia.  Walking boosts the levels of the hormone seratonin, which produces feelings of wellness and helps to relax you.  Another theory is that it raises the body temperature, which then signals the body to lower it later; promoting sleep.

4. Walking helps to protect your bones.  Walking just 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week helps to prevent and treat thinning bones.  Walking uses 95% of the muscles in the human body, which pushes your bones to strengthen to handle the work load.

5. Walking helps the brain.  Even if you only walk 45 minutes a week, it will help to reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s.  Walking has been linked to retaining mental sharpness in senior citizens.  Walking and talking at the same time also adds benefits to ward off Alzheimer’s.

6. Walking keeps you slimmer or can help you slim down.  Walking for a minimum of 30 minutes a day can help to keep those who are usually inactive at the same body weight.   Studies show that women who walk for at least an hour, 5 days a week and only consumed 1500 calories lost and kept off up to 25 pounds a year.