5 Surprising Benefits of Walking
The simple activity of walking has so many powerful health benefits. Done correctly, it can be the key to losing weight, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and boosting your memory, as well as reducing your risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more.
Walking for Health – created by the experts at Harvard Medical School – takes you step-by-step from why walking may be the most perfect exercise, to how to get started on a walking program, to specific walking workouts. It even has a special section on walking for weight loss.
Why Walking is the Perfect Exercise
Of course, you probably know that any physical activity, including walking, is a boon to your overall health. But walking, in particular, comes with a host of benefits. Here’s a list of five that may surprise you.
1. Counteracts the Effects of Weight-Promoting Genes
Harvard researchers looked at 32 obesity-promoting genes in over 12,000 people to determine how much these genes contribute to body weight. Among the participants who walked briskly for about an hour a day, the effects of those genes were cut in half.
2. Helps Tame a Sweet Tooth
A pair of studies from the University of Exeter found that a 15-minute walk can curb cravings for chocolate and even reduce the amount of chocolate consumed in stressful situations. Recent research also confirms that walking reduces cravings and intake of various sugary snacks.
3. Reduces the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer
Researchers know that any physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer, but an American Cancer Society study focused on walking found that women who walked seven or more hours a week had a 14% lower risk of breast cancer than those who walked three hours or fewer. This benefit extended even to women with risk factors such as being overweight or using supplemental hormones.
4. Eases Joint Pain
Several studies show that walking reduces arthritis-related pain. Walking five to six miles a week can even prevent arthritis from developing. Walking helps protect joints — particularly the knees and hips, which are prone to osteoarthritis — by lubricating them and strengthening the muscles that support them.
5. Boosts Immune Function
Walking can help protect you during cold and flu season. A study of over 1,000 men and women found that those who walked at least 20 minutes a day, five days a week, had 43% fewer sick days than those who exercised only once a week or less. If they did get sick, they experienced shorter illnesses and milder symptoms.
Wellness Academy USA’s Holistic Approach
Wellness Academy USA’s evidence-based lifestyle wellness program helps reduce weight, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, insulin resistance, waist circumference, cognitive decline, and stress. Our program also focuses on improving inflammation and joint pain related to arthritis and bone health issues.
We work with clients daily to promote safe self-care practices. This includes detoxifying the body, teaching you to shop for healthy organic foods, and preparing simple, delicious meals. Additionally, we help incorporate whole-body functional and adaptive physical activities into your life, encourage restorative sleep practices, and foster a positive mindset to improve well-being.
Our Mission
Our mission is to revolutionize the wellness industry by integrating a holistic, anti-aging approach into primary care. Rather than focusing on treating diseases, we emphasize treating the whole person. This goal is achieved by incorporating Wellness Academy USA’s innovative, evidence-based lifestyle wellness program into existing primary care medical practices.
