How walking can save your life
Taking your loved one on a walk is one of the best gifts that you can give to them...
Walking might be an overlooked form of exercise, but it is one of the most powerful.
Research shows that people who exercise regularly in their fifties and sixties are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. This is according to arthritis organisation.
With Mother's Day and Father's Day coming up, participating in the Suncoast East Coast Radio Big Walk is the perfect gift!
Walking can significantly lower the risk of chronic disease development for many people.
The Center for Chronic Disease states that 'regular exercise helps reduce your risk of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, many types of cancer, depression and anxiety, and dementia.'
READ: The perfect Mother's Day gift
Let's look at other health benefits of walking:
Walking strengthens the heart and lungs
The heart is the most important muscle in the body, so you have to make sure it is performing at its best. While walking helps improve your heart's performance, your lungs benefit too. The more you walk, the stronger your lungs get, with capacity and function ensuring peak oxygen supply. By strengthening these two vital organs, you reduce the risk of heart disease and the potential for a stroke.
Improves mental health
According to a study posted in arthritis.org, there was a lower age-related memory decline in women who went on regular walks.
A recent study published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry looked at data from over a million people over four years and found that people who walked found that their bad mental health days reduced by over 10%.
“In a survey of 1 750 doctors, 85% reported that they prescribed exercise, including walking, for treating depression (and 60% prescribed exercise to treat anxiety),” health.howstuffworks.com reported.
LISTEN: Mental Health talk with Kathrine Bekker-Smith
Strengthens muscles
Better Health reports that walking for just 30 minutes every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance.
Help with maintaining healthy weight
Obesity is a serious issue everywhere in the world. People who struggle with their weight can lose it by eating well and exercising through walking. Once the weight is lost, walking can help you maintain a healthy weight.
READ: Does drinking apple cider vinegar really help in weight loss?
Disclaimer: Health-related information provided in this article is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems. It is always advisable to consult with your doctor on any health-related issues.
Join The Big Walk, which is the biggest walking event in KZN, on Sunday, June 18.
The walk will start off at uShaka, continue past Suncoast, and end at Moses Mabhida (People's Park).
Ticket sales for the Suncoast East Coast Radio Big Walk are officially open. Purchase yours by clicking on the image below:
More From East Coast Radio
Image courtesy of iStock/ @krblokhin