Studies have found that your furry canine companion may be your heart’s best friend as well.
Researchers have found that compared to people who did not own pets, dog owners tend to have less risk factors for heart disease due to increased exercise, had healthier diets, and possessed lower blood sugar levels.
When compared to other pet owners, they were still doing better in terms of diet and exercise.
In 2013, the American Heart Association (AHA) made a scientific statement saying that dog ownership is highly linked to a lower risk of heart disease. This was based on evidence that those with dogs are more physically active, suggesting that the benefits may extend to diet and blood sugar levels.
The more obvious is that you get more physical activity from having to take your dog on walks periodically and the less obvious is how dog ownership encouraging a healthier lifestyle. Not only do dogs offer us companionship and emotional support, they get us moving and reduce stress resulting in greater happiness.
In general, more than two-thirds of dog owners (67%) met the “ideal” AHA recommendations for exercise. On the other hand, only 48% of people without pets met that ideal, as did 55% of other types of pet owners.
In terms of diet, dog owners were doing better than others: fewer than 7% scored in the “poor” range in diet compared to 16% of people without pets and 13% of other pet owners.
Do you own a dog or pet? How do you get your daily exercise? Comment down below!