In the past, walking was a daily activity and became an integral and unspoken part of people’s lives. Today, with modern conveniences and comforts everywhere you go exercise has become something you have to plan into your day and intentionally do. For some Americans, the most walking they do during the day is from their house to the car and then from the car to the office. What you may not know is that there are some surprising health benefits to walking as little as 30 minutes per day.
Increased Heart Strength
At this point, it is clear that heart disease and other related illnesses are one of the leading causes of death and health complications in this country. Walking for 30 minutes a day, especially in areas that will challenge you such as up hills or on a hiking trail will dramatically increase your circulation as well as heart health. A healthy heart and circulatory system will not only help you to feel better, but it will also give you peace of mind about your overall health.
Mood-Boosting Effects
There are many things that people use to enhance their moods, such as coffee, chocolate or sugar. While these things may be good at the moment, they are not doing much to help your body and move you towards your fitness and wellness goals. A 30-minute walk has actually been shown by research to decrease the hormones that leave you feeling irritated and hostile while boosting the hormones that make you feel relaxed and peaceful. To compound the mood-boosting effects of a walk, you can always invite a friend, family member or coworker along for conversation and company.
Increased Immune Response
Those who practice a light exercise routine and walking habit during the cold winter months have been shown to get sick less often, and when they do get sick they recover much faster than their sedentary counterparts. If you are looking for an easy way to assist your immune system during flu season, then getting outside for a walk is the answer. It’s important to note that if you are sensitive to cold temperatures, or want to avoid the risk of falling on ice, then walking indoors at a mall or on a treadmill at the gym both accomplish the same purpose.
Renewed Creativity
Some of the smartest people in the world understand the value and keep up a habit of daily walks. If you looking for a different approach to a problem or you are in a creative field and need to get a new perspective on a project than taking a quick walk and changing your surroundings will surely relax you and possibly inspire you.
Joint Protection
Running is a great outdoor or indoor activity, but if done incorrectly without the proper form it can lead to joint pain or other injuries. Walking has been shown to not only protect, lubricate joints and strengthen them against injury, but it also helps to stave off the symptoms of diseases like arthritis. When combined with stretching before and after, the limber and relaxed feeling you get after walking may surprise you.
At Lifegiving Chiropractic we encourage all our clients to do as much walking as they can to stay happy and healthy. If your back has been hurting you while you have been walking this can be a major issue, and you will need to contact us immediately.