Benefits Od Walking

Benefits of Walking and Fitness Training
By: Tiffany Justice Walking and fitness training can have many benefits. Regular fitness walking can increase your health and wellness to help prevent chronic diseases while helping to manage weight, relieve stress, and improve muscle and joint health. These benefits are all equally important to extend a person’s life expectancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “7 out of 10 deaths among Americans each year are from chronic diseases. Heart disease, cancer and stroke account for more than 50% of all deaths each year“. Obesity has become more and more of a leading contributing factor of these diseases. It is said that at least 1 out of every 2 adults and 1 in every 5 youth between 6 years old and 19 years old is obese. The Mayo Clinic suggests that regular physical activity can prevent diabetes, osteoporosis, some types of cancer, help manage blood pressure levels, and lower cholesterol. According to the long-term Nurses ' Health Study, brisk walking can help women lower their risk of heart disease by 30% to 40%. A 2001 study published in Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise found that women with high blood pressure reduced their systolic blood pressure and body mass by maintaining a regular physical routine. Harvard researchers determined that one hour of regular, moderate exercise also known as brisk walking, done five days a week, may cut a man 's risk of stroke in half.

Regular physical activity can also help relive stress. When a person participates in physical activities such as walking, their brain releases chemicals such as endorphins that improve your mood and even increase their energy level. With all of the stress in this day and age, it is very helpful to have a release of stress, reduced depression, and better sleep. When engaging in physical activity, there is an increase of blood flow to the brain. This blood flow helps to improve brain function which in turn, can help a person in daily life by being mentally prepare of their day. As you are fitness walking, your body uses numerous muscle groups that require oxygen. The repetitive motion of leg strides and arm swings gives a person a total body workout. One of the benefits from the total body workout is improved muscular fitness and strength and increased joint health. Keeping a regular habit of fitness walking gives muscles the ability to efficiently transport the oxygen and other nutrients to these muscles and joints thus, making your joints and muscles stronger and increasing bone density. This can help you by increasing your ability to prevent hazardous falls and helping the body to heal faster from injuries.

So in conclusion, regular fitness walking can increase your health and wellness to help prevent chronic diseases while helping to manage weight, relieve stress, and improve muscle and joint health. These benefits are all equally important to extend a person’s life expectancy.

References: Hoefs, Jeremy. “5 Benefits of Fitness Walking“. Jul 21, 2011. http://www.livestrong.com/article/498043-5-benefits-of-fitness-walking/ixzz2DblWtab4

“Walking: A step in the right direction“. Weight Control Information Network: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/walking.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.

“Your guide to physical activity and your heart“. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/phy_active.pdf. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.

References: Hoefs, Jeremy. “5 Benefits of Fitness Walking“. Jul 21, 2011. http://www.livestrong.com/article/498043-5-benefits-of-fitness-walking/ixzz2DblWtab4 “Walking: A step in the right direction“. Weight Control Information Network: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/walking.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012. “Your guide to physical activity and your heart“. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/phy_active.pdf. Accessed Nov. 25, 2012.