The Benefits of Walking
By Sara Butler
Walking is something you do each day, so you may not realize just how fabulous it is for your health and wellness. In fact, as far as exercise is concerned, walking is one of the best gentle and low impact exercises you can do. If that's not enough for you to take up walking as your form of exercise, then here are a few more benefits of walking that should keep in mind.
It's Great for Your Heart
Walking can help you to reach and maintain a healthy body weight and that's good news for your heart health. That aside, walking also helps to lower your bad cholesterol while increasing the good. According to the Stroke Association, taking a brisk 30-minute walk each day can help reduce blood pressure and lower your risk of stroke by nearly 30 percent.
It's Good for Your Brain
The Alzheimer's Society reports that participating in physical exercise reduces your risk of developing dementia later on in life. It's also promising to note that research has shown that walking can help preserve memory and keep your brain from shrinking as you age.
It Makes You Happier
Looking for a mood boost? Go walking! Studies have shown that walking can help to reduce symptoms of mild to moderate depression. That's because the simple act of walking helps to release endorphins that reduce anxiety and stress. It's not a replacement for any type of therapy you may currently be on for depression, but it can help to make symptoms more tolerable.
It Increases Vitamin D
It's not uncommon for someone to be Vitamin D deficient and that can have a huge impact on your overall health. From the health of your bones to your immune system functioning properly, Vitamin D is an important vitamin. Walking can help you soak up some sun so that your body can produce its own Vitamin D and stay healthy.
Walking is something you can easily work into your everyday schedule. Just a 20- to 30-minute walk can make a huge impact on your overall health and wellness, so do what you can to get a little exercise in most days of the week and see how much better you feel -- and how much happier you can be!
If you need tips for getting started with a walking regimen, then talk to the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropratic.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Buford, Ga.