Walking is linked to a decrease in your risk of death

How little walking is too little? Think about how much your body is moving throughout the day, is it a lot? Or even enough? As your body moves it provides information to the brain keeping it aware of how the body is functioning and constantly sending messages back and forth to make small changes as is needed. If you have a desk job the amount of movement you perform during the day may be very minimal. From waking up in the morning, sitting down to have breakfast, sitting down in the car/train, sitting down at your desk, going home in the car/train and then sitting down on the couch at the end of the day. How much purposeful movement happened during this typical day? Not much! Dedicated time to exercise is very important for the overall functioning of the body. “A lot of people find it daunting to start an exercise regimen. They think they have to start jogging or doing something intense,” said lead author, Alpa Patel, PhD, a researcher at the American Cancer Society. “There is a tremendous health benefit to simply going out for a walk.” The recommended minimum levels of exercise are >150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity weekly which is recommended for optimal health. In older adults regular walking even below minimum recommended levels is associated with lower all-cause mortality compared with inactivity. Walking at or above physical activity recommendations is associated with even greater decreased risk. Walking is simple, free, and does not require any training, and thus is an ideal activity for most Australians, especially as they age. Give it a go! To find the full article click the link below, and remember maintaining correct posture and a proper functioning spine and pelvis is key to maximising the physical benefits of walking. https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/888446walking