5 Surprising Benefits of Walking (that I Bet you Didn’t Already know)
Did you know that the simple act of walking provides incredible health benefits that are not just for weight loss and mental health? Last year, Harvard University came out with a study which revealed that physical activity in general can boost overall health and wellness, but walking in particular comes with surprising benefits! It has even been known as the “wonder drug.”
Now this seems too easy right?? How is it possible that walking can make such a significant impact on your health? As a health partner, walking is one of my favorite activities to recommend, especially for busy mamas who are struggling to find that balance between family life and self care. Here is a summary of this study:
It counteracts the effects of weight-promoting genes
Ever hear of the phrase, “My weight is affected by genetics?” There is a slight chance that genes contribute to the causes of obesity in many ways, by affecting appetite, satiety (the sense of fullness), metabolism, food cravings, body-fat distribution, and the tendency to use eating as a way to cope with stress according to Harvard studies. They also found that by walking briskly for one hour a day can decrease the effects of those genes BY HALF. Could you imagine what you could do with the other half by controlling diet??
It helps tame a sweet tooth
We all know that exercise can boost your mood by releasing endorphins to your brain, which are the “feel good” hormones. What these hormones also do is help curb cravings for chocolate and even reduce the amount of chocolate you would in stressful situations! I was totally that person who would scarf down an entire bag of chocolate chips when I was feeling tired or over-restrictive, and my cravings would just take over. But latest research confirms that walking can reduce cravings and the intake of sugar snacks.
It reduces the risk of developing breast cancer
This one I found interesting! I always thought that being healthy in general would help reduce the risk of certain diseases and cancer diagnoses, but an American Cancer Society study showed 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 per week.
It Eases Joint Pain
This one I knew after working as an orthopedic nurse practitioner for 3 years. We would perform hundreds of joint replacement surgeries a month due to arthritis. Although osteoarthritis is very genetic, you can reduce this risk of needing a knee or hip replacement down the road by sticking to low-impact exercise such as walking, biking and swimming. There are also low-impact exercise programs out there which include weights and resistance bands to build muscle but can also improve joint pain. Here is a free sample workout that supports joint health but can still produce great results!
It Boosts Immune Function
Cold and flu season is here! And of course we can’t help what we are exposed to but walking at least 20 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week can help protect you from calling in sick! There was a 43% lower rate of sicks days than those who exercised once a week or less. And if an individual did get sick, their symptoms were milder and it was for a shorter duration.
And there you have it! Who knew that walking could provide such significant health benefits?! At the end of the day, your fitness journey does not have to be complicated. We live in a society where we are made to feel that we have to put in hours of exercise a day to get the “dream body” but what is more important is to be functional and consistent. Healthy does not always mean aesthetic and aesthetic doesn’t always symbolize healthy. Get your steps in and I’d say that you are off to a great start :)