Posted By:Carene Montjoy
Posted On:March, 06th 2009
Category: Fitness
What if there was something simple you could do every day that would burn calories, be good for your heart, and help you stay young. You'd do it, right? Walking cuts breast-cancer risks, protects your bones, helps you sleep, and more. Walking is good for just about anybody, and the health benefits are particularly significant for both women and men. Here, eight reasons to start walking -- or just walk a little more often. 1. It's great for the heart - Walking briskly for 30 minutes every day lowers your odds of developing metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors linked to higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. 2. It cuts breast-cancer risks - Walking, even for a few hours a week, significantly reduces breast-cancer risk, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It helps reduce levels of body fat which is a source of estrogen. 3. It helps you sleep - A brisk walk in the afternoon will help you get a better night's sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Walking may boost levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin to help relax you and the rise in body temperature brought on by walking may signal the brain to lower your temperature later, which promotes sleep. 4. It cuts down on aches and pains - Walk the "Chi" way and you could have fewer achy days. “Chi” walking looks like regular walking but, because you consciously relax, improve the alignment of your body, and involve arm movements, you put less stress on your legs while you walk. That means fewer aches and pains. 5. It makes you happy - Walking can relieve depression, anxiety, and stress. Just one 30-minute walk may make you feel better when you're down. Head out for 90 minutes five times a week and you'll get the biggest boost, according to a new study from 6. It keeps you slimmer - Walking for 30 minutes a day can prevent weight gain. The reason walking helps control your weight: It's an easy way to stay active! 7. It staves off senior moments - Several studies in older people suggest that walking helps ward off Alzheimer's disease. Regular strolls are linked to mental sharpness in seniors. But regardless of your age, walking is likely to help keep your mind active. 8. It protects your bones - Just 30 minutes of walking three times a week does wonders to prevent and treat thinning bones.