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5SurprisingBenefitsofWalking
Thesimpleactivityofwalkinghasmanyhealthbenefits.Ifitcouldbeprescribedinapillform,itwouldbethemostwidelyprescribedmedicationintheworld.Dr.ThomasFrieden,directoroftheCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventioncallswalking,“theclosestthingwehavetoawonderdrug”.
1. Walkingcounteractstheeffectsofweight-promotinggenes.Harvardresearchersobserved32obesitypromotinggenesinover12,000peopletoassesshowmuchthesegeneseffectobesity.Theydiscoveredthatamongthestudyparticipantswhowalkedbrisklyaboutanhouraday,theeffectswerecutinhalf.
2. Walkinghelpstotameasweettooth.TwostudiesfromtheUniversityofExeterfoundthata15minutewalkcancurbcravingsforchocolateandevenreducetheamountofchocolateonewouldeatinstressfulsituations.Thelatestresearchalsoconfirmsthatwalkingcanreducecravingsandintakeofsugarysnacks.
3. Walkingreducestheriskofbreastcancer.Ithasbeenproventhatactivitysuchaswalkingreducestheriskofbreastcancer.TheAmericanCancerSocietydidfurtherresearchtoassesshowmuchwalkingwouldlowertheriskevenforwomenwithmultipleriskfactors.Womenwhowalkedsevenormorehoursperweekhada14%lowerriskofbreastcancerthanthosewhowalked3ormorehoursperweek.
4. Walkingeasesjointpain.Severalstudieshavefoundthatwalkingreducesarthritisrelatedpainandwalking5-6milesperweekcanevenpreventarthritisfromforminginthefirstplace.Walkingprotectsthejoints,especiallykneesandhipswhicharemostsusceptibletoosteoarthritis,bylubricatingthemandstrengtheningmusclesthatsupportthem.
5. Walkingboostsimmunefunction.Walkingcanhelpprotectyouduringcoldandfluseason.Astudyofgreaterthan1,000menandwomenfoundthatthosewhowalkedatleast20minutesaday,atleast5daysperweek,had43%fewersickdaysthanthosewhoexercisedonceaweekorless.Ifthepeoplewhoexerciseddidgetsick,itwasforashorterduration,andtheirsymptomsweremilder.