The human body was originally designed for walking long distances – ancient man walked 10 to 16 kilometers per day in search of food and survival. Modern man would think twice or thrice about driving 10 to 16 kilometers daily for food, let alone walking!  But walking is still extremely relevant to modern man’s survival, albeit in terms of good health. The Harvard Medical School quotes studies that have shown a host of health benefits of regular walking, amongst them a few lesser known benefits: Walking reduces the effect of obesity promoting genes. A study of 32 obesity promoting genes amongst 12 000 people has shown that participants who walked briskly for an hour per day had a 50% reduction

Fitness and weight control are well-known major benefits of a rigorous exercise routine, but regular physical activity can also assist in reducing the risk of several diseases and health conditions. Keep in mind that exercise is but one of several good lifestyle habits for better health. The most important of the lesser known benefits of exercise are summarized below: Heart health: Strengthening the heart muscle. Lowering blood pressure. Raising good cholesterol (HDL) levels. Lowering bad cholesterol levels (LDL). Improving the working of the cardiovascular system (blood flowing freely) by delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. Improving the heart’s working capacity. Reducing the risk of a stroke.  Brain health: Increasing oxygen levels in the brain by the increased flow

Recently published findings of scientifically proven studies have indicated that sitting for long periods of time, coupled with physical inactivity, is as important a risk factor as chronic disease for early mortality.  This risk is reduced in correlation with the amount of physical activity that the individual employs.  Sitting for 8 hours a day requires moderate intense physical activity for about 60 – 75 minutes per day to eliminate the risk of earlier death associated with high sitting time.  Exercise can still be beneficial if it is spread out during the day. If your schedule does not allow 60 minutes of exercise, then at least 30 minutes a day can be protective in this regard. But there is more to

The British Medical Journal has published an enormous study, in which 339 000 health records were analyzed, and which found that exercise is every bit as effective as prescription drugs for treating heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Exercise worked just as well as drugs for controlling blood sugar, but the most impressive results came from patients who had suffered strokes.  No drug came near to helping stroke patients as much as simple exercise and strength training. If you are struggling with controlling your blood sugar or trying to recovery from a stroke, or battling with heart disease, exercise will work as a wonderful alternative to drugs.  To crown it all this type of medication is FREE!  Daily walking around the block

Daily we exert an enormous amount of mechanical stress on two very important joints, our knees.  However, certain daily habits could be shortening the life of your knees, which then may lead to chronic pain, disability and debilitating knee conditions, like osteoarthritis. In order to keep ones knees healthy, we need to cognizance of the following: Body Mass Index (BMI) For every extra kg you put on, you add 3 kg of pressure on  the knee joints when you walk and 10 kg when you run.  Obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for developing osteoarthritis, as it enhances the breakdown of the cartilage.  Losing weight and maintaining a healthy BMI is one of the best ways to protect