Live Well: Walking for health
Want to improve your overall health and well-being? Do you have a half-hour to spare? There are many health benefits of a 30-minute daily walk. In fact, it is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to do your whole body good.
“Walking, or any exercise, that gets people off the couch and moving is great,” said Amy Bleak, who holds a doctorate of nursing practice and is a nurse practitioner in Cedar City. “Between 30-60 minutes of brisk walking every day is good for overall health.”
Walking is good for every single body. Walking is also healthy for all the body’s parts. Take strides toward better health and get walking today. “Any ‘body’ can do it,” Bleak said.
Walk for a healthy heart: According to the American Heart Association, walking is just as useful to the heart as running. Walking regularly can contribute to avoiding heart-related issues such as stroke and heart attack. “Walking is good for the heart,” said Bleak. “Walking improves circulation, stabilizes blood pressure, reduces cholesterol, and can reduce the risk for edema and blood clots.”
Walk for a healthy weight: Regular exercise such as walking 10,000 or more steps a day will lead to weight loss. Walking can help burn fat and strengthen muscle in a low impact way. “People tend to think they need a huge cardio work-out to lose weight,” Bleak said. “You can actually lose weight by walking briskly on a regular, daily basis.”
Walk for a healthy colon and kidneys: Walking, or any regular exercise, is also good for the kidneys as it lowers the risk for diabetes. Walking also helps prevent flatulence and constipation by keeping the gut moving — literally.
Walk for healthy bones, joints, and spine: Relieve stiffness by keeping active and remember that use strengthens bones and joints and well as muscles. Walking is a low impact activity that can strengthen posture and help ease the discomfort of back pain.
Walk for a healthy brain and mood: “Getting out in the fresh air to go for a walk not only gives you plenty of vitamin D,” said Bleak, “it is also sure to improve mental wellness. Walking helps people relieve stress and think well and be well.”
Walk for a healthy Halloween on the hospital trail: “The Cedar City Hospital has a great loop trail that is about a mile around,” Bleak said. “The trail is lighted, mostly flat, and it is cleared of snow in the winter. It is a perfect place to get walking. Hospital employees use it regularly, but it is also a great safe place for all community members to get their walking steps in.”
On Halloween, bring a child or grandchild (ages 3-12) and walk the Cedar City Hospital trail during the annual Trail and Treat Halloween event on Wednesday, October 31, from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be dozens of booths, activities, games, and of course trick-or-treat candy. Bring the whole family for some silly, spooky, delightful Halloween fun! Costumes are encouraged.
Walk for a healthy night’s sleep: “The great thing about the Trail and Treat is that it is early enough in the evening that kids – and adults – can still get to bed at a reasonable hour on Halloween night,” said Bleak. Because every healthy body should sleep well after all that walking.
This LiVe Well column represents collaboration between healthcare professionals from the medical staffs of our not-for-profit Intermountain Healthcare hospitals and The Spectrum & Daily News.