Maybe it just takes a good pair of walking shoes
HEALTH IS WEALTH SERIES
Friday, April 19, 2024
Do you remember that old Crest Whitening toothpaste commercial that aired for 10+ years with the famous tag-line: "If you're not whitening, you're yellowing"?
The principle that the ad capitalized on is that just simple living will result in yellowing teeth that only active whitening can reverse. It refers to the idea that if you're not moving in one direction, you're moving in the other direction by default. The truth is, this seems to be scientific with regards to your health; both mentally and physically.
If you're not getting stronger, you're getting weaker. If you're not getting faster, you're getting slower. If you're not getting sharper, you're getting duller. If you're not increasing your flexibility, you're losing it. If you're not getting more mobile, you're getting less. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 28% of Americans get enough structured exercise and daily movement.
Well, darn.
The good news is however, it doesn't take drastic measures to begin moving in the right direction rather than defaulting into worse health over time. In fact, something as simple and easy as walking might just be one of the most effective ways to increase good health and maintain it. For the purposes of longevity, it's hard to beat it.
Something as simple and as easy as walking might just be one of the most effective ways to increase good health.
It can help you burn calories while achieving a great deal of other benefits, including:
balancing hormones
strengthening your bones and slowing muscular atrophy
and much more!
New research even shows that, particularly for women, walking can keep the brain healthy and possibly even delay the onset of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.
So, how much walking does it take to see a positive difference? Most scientific experiments suggest that implementing even just 30 to 45 minutes of brisk walking can begin to kick these systems into gear. Partnered with stretching, and cleaning up your diet, it can take just 21 days of consistent walking to see an increase in muscular definition, weight loss, and improvements in blood pressure, glucose levels, and much more.
Perhaps all it takes to step towards longevity really is a pair of sneakers! After all, if you don't use them, you might lose them ;)
LG Pannell, NYC
(The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly.)
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