Benefits of walking for good health

Many people embraced walking when the pandemic forced gyms to close. Though walking may not provide the same level of intensity as cardiovascular machines, the Arthiritis Foundation notes the various ways walking can benefit older adults.

LWers can pick up the LW walking trails map in a cafe (by the vending mahines) of Clubhouse 5, downstairs.

• Walking strengthens the heart and lowers the blood pressure. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles per day can lower their blood pressure in as little as a few weeks, while women who walk for 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%.

• Walking strengthens the bones and may stop the loss of bone mass for people with osteoporosis. Incorporating walking into a daily fitness regimen can reduce the risk of hip fracture by 40%.

• Walking can extend people’s lives. The Arthritis Foundation notes that one study linked walking to longer life expectancy, finding that older adults who exercise regularly are 35% more likely to live longer than people who never walked.

• Walking can improve mood. One study from researchers at California State University, Long Beach, found that the more steps people taking during the day, the better their moods were.

• Walking can lower risk for age-related cognitive decline. A study from the University of Virginia Health System found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease compared to men who walked less.

In addition, a study from researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found that age-related memory decline was lower among women ages 65 and older who walked 2.5 miles per day than those who walked less than half a mile per week.

Walking is a great way to stay in shape and even provides some lesser known benefits for people who walk each day.

—MetroCreativeConnection