We’ve found the antidote to staying healthy and young – walking!
We hate to think about it, but aging is a reality and we become a higher risk for certain medical conditions as the years go by – but what if there was a simple remedy?
Dr James Brown, an expert in ageing, said that ”while 30 minutes’ brisk walking a day might not seem like much, studies from around the world showed it benefited all-round health.”
An honorary research fellow at the Heart of England NHS Trust in Birmingham, Dr Brown, explained that maintaining muscle mass is necessary to staying mobile and living an independent life – and when you think about it, it’s such a simple, free medication.
The benefits
Walking strengthens the cardiovascular system, which in turn, reduces your risk of gaining weight.
It can also help in the prevention of diabetes by reducing deposits of bad fats that are prevalent in those that are not physically active.
You may be thinking, “I go to the gym, lift weights and even run marathons; how can walking be more effective? Well, Brown reassured that “All of these changes are not seen in people that run marathons, they are not seen in people who lift weights in the gym or spend four hours running on the treadmill, these are seen in people who walk, and who walk for half an hour a day.
He went on to say that, “30 percent of people with depression who took up walking for half an hour a day found their symptoms were improved. If the amount of time patients spent walking was increased, the number who noticed improvement reached nearly 50 percent.”
So if you are looking for an easy and inexpensive way to turn back the clock, simply take a walk for 30 minutes every day and you will feel (and see) your youth returning – giving you the confidence that age is just a number if you take care of yourself!
Source: iol.co.za