Health Benefits of Walking

Many Internet health sites have featured the benefits of adding walking to your healthy lifestyle.  Here are a few suggestions:

1. Walking just 2 miles a day has been associated with living a longer life.
2. Walking can pump up your metabolism thereby helping you lose weight or maintain weight loss.
3. It’s easy to get started…get a good pair of walking or running shoes and pick a trail.  Start slow and build speed and distance over time.
4. Studies show that walking for 45 minutes in the morning helps stabilize and maintain healthier blood sugar levels.
5. Walking for 20-45 minutes a day has been shown to lower the incidence of both heart disease and stroke.
6. Walking is not only good for your body, it’s good for your mind and spirit too.  A National Council of Aging study found that 45 minutes of daily walking improves mental acuity.
7. Walking lifts your mood especially if you enjoy nature or good company on your walk.
8. Walk well in the morning contributes to you sleeping well at night.
9. Walking is good anytime but what a great way to start your day with movement, breathing, fresh air and good company.  Make it a lifestyle.

One of life's simple pleasures and best exercises is the morning walk. A simple stroll can do wonders for refreshing your brain, activating your body and beating stress. Exercise is good at anytime but the morning comes with its own set of advantages if for no other reason than it sets the stage for the rest of your day.  And, if finding the time to exercise is an issue, then exercising in the morning gets one thing off your to do list right away and prepares you for a healthy day!

For more health and lifestyle information contact Dr. Ben Smetana, D.C. at 651.739.2500 or to receive free weekly health and lifestyle tips visit www.oschw.com.