Anyone who takes even the slightest interest in their health knows that the simple activity of walking can be hugely beneficial to your overall wellness. In fact, it’s no surprise that doctors are increasingly prescribing a routine of walking as part of their patient’s recovery plan.
Much has been written about the benefits of walking, and I would like to reference just one:
“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of wellbeing and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it … but by sitting still, and the more one sits still, the closer one becomes to feeling ill. Thus, if one just keeps on walking, everything will be alright.”
Bruce Chatwin, Songlines, quoting a letter written in 1847
This is a nice, but perhaps too poetic, reason for getting out and walking. So, let’s drill down and look at five specific benefits more from our time. This list comes from research carried out by Harvard Medical School and is quoted in the Harvard Health Publishing journal, 5th August 2022.
- Walking counteracts the effects of weight-producing genes. In a study group of 12,000 people, the researchers found that walking briskly for about an hour a day, halved the effects of obesity-promoting genes.
- It helps tame a sweet tooth. A number of separate studies found that a 15-minute walk can curb cravings for chocolate and even reduce the amount of chocolate you eat in stressful situations. And the latest research confirms that walking can reduce cravings and intake of a variety of sugary snacks.
- It reduces the risk of developing breast cancer. Researchers already know that any kind of physical activity blunts the risk of breast cancer. But in this study which zeroed in 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 per week. And walking provided this protection even for the women with breast cancer risk factors, such as being overweight or using supplemental hormones.
- It eases joint pain. Several studies have found that walking reduces arthritis-related pain, and that walking five to six miles a week can even prevent arthritis from forming in the first place. Walking protects the joints — especially the knees and hips, which are most susceptible to osteoarthritis — by lubricating them and strengthening the muscles that support them.
- Walking 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, at least 5 days a week, had 43% fewer sick days than those who exercised once a week or less. And if they did get sick, it was for a shorter duration, and their symptoms were milder.
So, there you have it! Whichever way you look at it and for whatever reason you are motivated to start walking regularly, you will be the beneficiary. This is not to say that walking should be your only form of exercise, or that walking should replace other forms of exercise, but if it gets you started on your wellness journey, its got to be a good thing.
And it doesn’t have to be a solo activity. If you would like to combine walking with the social benefits of exercising in company, come along to one of Renewed After 50’s Sunday Walking and Hiking events. These are posted on Meetup and will be resuming again next month. https://www.meetup.com/Renewed-After-50-Hawthorn-Walking-Meetup-Group
Hope to see you soon!
Roger Dickeson is an integral part of the RA50 team for 2023 and is directly involved in a range of the plans for the group, including franchising and business development, product and logistics, and marketing.