8 REASONS YOU SHOULD TAKE A DAILY WALK

I always feel suprise when people drive across town every weekends the gym, hunt around for a place to park, change their clothes, sign up for a treadmill, and wait in line to use it. all just to take a 30 minutes walk Not that there's anything wrong with walking. Walking's great. But I have a theory that making such a big production of it makes it more work than fun, more exercise than pleasure. Plus, the best thing about walking is that it's so simple. Why complicate it ? Here are 8 reasons you should take a daily walk


1. It's Free
Walking is as close to free as it gets. You don't need fancy shoes, or clothes, or equipment. If you head straight out your front door, a walk will only cost you some time and a little rubber off the bottom of your shoes.

2. It's good for Your Blood Sugar
In terms of the health benefits, even a little walk goes a long way. Several studies over the past few years have found that as little as 15 minutes of walking after a meal will improve digestion and even out blood sugar levels.

3. Its good for Your Brain
A brief walk can melt mental fatigue , improve memory , and even help stave off the progress of Alzheimer's disease . We often spend much of the day thinking and worrying. Taking a walk is a way to leave it all behind.

4. It makes you fit
A major meta-analysis conducted by the researchers at the University of Michigan and published in "The Annals of Family Medicine" in 2008 compiled the results of nine different studies to conclude that pedometer-based walking programs resulted in weight loss. The longer participants kept a regular walking schedule going, the more weight they were likely to lose. It's easy to assume that being "fit" has to involve super- intense "boot camp" classes or marathon training, but the reality is that high intensity isn't for everyone, and it definitely isn't for all the time.

5. For healthy bones
A 1994 study by researchers at Tufts University found out that women with a high risk of osteoporosis who walked at least 7.5 miles per week had higher bone density — not just in their legs, but in their whole bodies — than women who walked less than a mile per week. Your bones respond to weight- bearing activity. Walking seems almost too easy, but it fits the bill.

6. Vitamin D
You've probably heard all about the importance of vitamin D to overall health. The best source? A few minutes of sunlight on your face and hands. A short afternoon walk should do the trick.

7. You Can Do It Any Time
Sometimes I walk first thing in the morning. Sometimes I do it in the afternoon or before dinner. The point is that there's really no excuse not to walk because you can do it any time.

8. The Best Part? You Never Know Where It'll Take You
It's while I'm walking that I notice the frost on the grass, or a rabbit hiding behind a tree, or the moon peeking out from behind the clouds. It's when I'm walking that I get a great idea, or realize that the one I thought was great is actually pretty lame. I've explored the neighborhood where I live, and admired and fantasized about the ones I'd like to move to. I guess that's why walking is such a well-worn metaphor for life. You might not know where you're headed. All you've got to do is keep putting one foot in front of the other..

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