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.