fit body
WALK ABOUT Simple Steps to Well-Being
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by Laura Paisley Beck
P
eople that wear a fitness watch get a little buzz on the wrist as a reminder to get more steps in each hour, but many ignore the simple opportunity that exists to exercise upright for free anytime and anywhere. “Yes, we take walking for granted,” says Alexia McClerkin, a Houston chiropractor whose clients include professional and elite athletes. “Most people only walk as far as it takes to get to their car.”
Sitting is the New Smoking
According to On Your Feet America, Americans sit 10 hours or more each day, and that sedentary habit is considered hazardous to our health. It may contribute to climbing obesity rates in the U.S., currently at 44.5 percent among those ages 40 to 59. Today’s most common preventable diseases are directly linked to obesity, the key word being “preventable.” 20
Broward County, Florida Edition
NaBroward.com
According to On Your Feet America, Americans sit 10 hours or more each day, and that sedentary habit is considered hazardous to our health. It may contribute to climbing obesity rates in the U.S., currently at 44.5 percent among those ages 40 to 59. Today’s most common preventable diseases are directly linked to obesity, the key word being “preventable.”
Walking briskly daily has proven to increase metabolism, lower both blood pressure and resting heart rates, and burn calories. Other benefits include improving mobility, equilibrium and stamina. Benjamin Horning, a Laguna Hills, California, chiropractor and author of A Kid’s Guide to a Healthy Spine, says, “I’m a big believer that movement is life. I recommend that if you can move, get moving. Walking is a good starting point. If you can walk instead of drive, go for it. If you’re stuck indoors, schedule 15-to-20-minute walks in your calendar.”
