Now that we’ve covered a few basic food myths (check out links at the bottom of this post for those results), let’s switch gears to exercise. There’s been an increasing trend in workplaces encouraging daily exercise as part of their wellness programs. Typically, we are told that we should aim to hit 10,000 steps per day of physical activity. 10,000 steps equal to about 5 miles. That’s a lot of walking! In our company, we try to reach this goal by taking walks for our morning break, afternoon break, and lunch time. But dear readers, as with all trends, we wonder, is walking really a good thing for our health?
Our research indicates that yes, walking is of great benefit. Some benefits of walking include losing and maintaining weight, preventing heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Walking can also help strengthen your bones and muscles, which is a great thing, especially for women. Doctors advise women to walk with weights to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis as they get older. You know what’s even better? Walking can improve your mood and relieve anxiety and depression! Your loved ones and coworkers may appreciate that lift in mood!
When you walk, one thing to keep in mind is how you walk. You have to make sure that your head is up and that you are looking forward instead of down. Your neck, shoulders and back should be relaxed and your arms should swing freely with a slight bend in your elbows. As you walk, your back should be straight and your stomach muscles should be slightly tight. And make sure that you walk by rolling your foot from heel to toe.
Some tips as you go on your walking journey. Begin your walk by warming up for about 5 to 10 minutes with a slow walk. Once you are done with the walk, do the same thing. Cool down by slowly walking for 5 to 10 minutes. Oh, and don’t forget to stretch your muscles.
I hope this short article is helpful to you. Gotta run and catch up with my walking group now!
Previous posts debunking or verifying food myths:
Some Healthy Foods are Packed with Loads of Sugar
Are Dairy Free Ice Creams Really Healthier than Traditional Ice Cream?
3 thoughts on “Is Walking a Good Form of Exercise?”