The birds are chirping and the sun is shining and the days are becoming longer. It’s that time of year where there are picnic’s galore and summer vacations are booked. But what about exercising?

It can be difficult to delegate extra time to go to the gym or make that late aerobic class. What if you could simply walk to good health. In a way, you can!

Walking and Health

Did you know that according the Harvard Medical School, about 20 minutes a day of walking can reduce your heart disease risk by 30%? Not only can it help your heart, but also your mental and physical health.

Benefits of Walking

• Increases balance
• Improves strength of bones/muscles
• Mood booster
• Decrease risk of disease (cancer, heart conditions, diabetes)

Daily walking has also shown to help reduce one’s cholesterol levels and cancer risk. I do not know about you, but I think that is amazingly simple and doable.

Walk Walk Walk

The great thing about walking is that it can be done in so many places, and in varying increments. You can walk to work instead of driving.  You can take the dog on a morning walk. You can do some walking around the yard.

So get your good, supportive walking shoes on and challenge yourself to about 20 minutes a day. You can do it all at once, or divide throughout the day. Whatever you choose to do, find what works best for you!

References

American Heart Association. Walk, Don’t Run, Your Way to a Healthy Heart. Retrieved from

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/PhysicalActivity/Walking/Walk-Dont-Run-Your-Way-to-a-Healthy-Heart_UCM_452926_Article.jsp#mainContent

Harvard Medical School. Walk for Health. Retrieved from

http://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/walking-for-health

Mayo Clinic.Walking: Trim your waistline, improve your health. Retrieved from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20046261