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Wellness Health Benefits of Walking for Heart, Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Bones, Depression

A simple and short daily routine of walking can have many health and wellness benefits.

  • Bone Health. Research shows that “walking helps strengthen bones, reducing the risk of osteoporosis (thinning of the bones).” [Source: Arthritis.org]
  • Blood Pressure. Research has demonstrated a 7% to 9% decrease in blood pressure after six months of regular walking. [Source: National Library of Medicine]
  • Brain Health. Research shows that those who walk, “cut their risk of developing memory loss in half.” [Source: WebMD and Neurology.org]
  • Cancer. Research shows that “women who walked briskly for about an hour on most days of the week were able to reduce their risk of breast cancer by some 15 percent.” [Source: National Cancer Institute] “Women who walked for 1 to 1.9 hours each week were 31 percent less likely to develop colon cancer than those who didn’t walk at all, the researchers found. And women who exercised at moderate or vigorous intensity for more than 4 hours weekly were at 44 percent lower risk of colon cancer than those who exercised for less than an hour a week.” [Source: Reuters]
  • Depression. Research shows that “walking fast for about 35 minutes a day five times a week or 60 minutes a day three times a week had a significant influence on mild to moderate depression symptoms.” [Source: Harvard Health Publications] More about fighting depression can be found on the OutwitTrade.com website. [Read]
  • Diabetes. Research shows that “moderate exercise, accumulated throughout the day, can lower risk of Type 2 diabetes by nearly 50 percent.” [Source: Harvard Gazette]
  • Heart Disease. Research shows that “Fast walking and jogging every day can cut your risk of heart disease and stroke by as much as 50 percent.” [Source: National Institutes of Health]
  • Overall Body Function. Metabolism, digestion, and other body functions are activated and revived through walking.

By Greg Johnson

Greg Johnson is a freelance writer and tech consultant in Iowa City. He is also the founder and Director of the ResourcesForLife.com website. Learn more at AboutGregJohnson.com