Walk

With cars so easily available and accessible, we hardly walk nowadays. Some even go the extent of driving to the store which was just about 5 min walk away. I have seen that for myself during my uni years. I on the other hand prefer to walk whenever I can, though I don't go for the staircase to avoid the lift. Ascending staircase is always my weakness. Descending staircase... I have no problem with that.

I think I've seen people hanging out a small display in their car, something about walking 10,000 steps a day. I have that too, but couldn't figure out where I'd dumped it already. Might still be in my room, or it might have ended up in the dustbin already. Can't deny that walking does bring about plenty of health benefits. So are some to be shared, also from Yahoo News...

1. Increases Your Lifespan

A 2011 study looking into 27,738 participants between 40 and 79 years old over 13 years shows that walking for more than an hour a day improves life expectancy significantly.

2. Wards Off Diabetes

2002 study - 30 min walk can prevent type 2 diabetes. Overweight people are at higher risk.

2007 study - min 1 mile walk cuts your risk of death from all causes in half.

3. Keeps Your Mind Sharp

Walking 6 - 9 miles a week increases grey matter and lowers risk of cognitive impairment or trouble with concentration, memory and thought. To those already suffering from Alzheimer's or mild cognitive impairment, 5 miles walk per week will protect the memory and learning area of the brain, slowing the decline in memory loss.

4. Lowers Blood Pressure

30 min walk, 3 - 5 days a week can significantly lowers blood pressure.

5. Good Bone Health

1994 study - walking a mile a day improves bone density in post-menopausal women, slowing bone loss rate from the legs.

6. Cuts The Risk Of Stroke

12.5 miles walk a week cuts the risk of stroke in half.

7. Improves Your Mood

When you're feeling down, just 30 min on a treadmill reduces tension and depression, lifting moods faster tan anti-depressants (with fewer side-effects too).

8. Torches Calories

Daily 20 min walk burns 7 pounds a year, giving more dramatic effect when coupled with dietary changes.

9. Improves Insomnia

A brisk 45 min walk in the morning 5 days a week can improve sleep significantly. An evening walk, however, have an opposite effect. So keep an eye on when you're exercising and what your sleep patterns are.

10. Good For Heart

Brisk walk for 3 or more hours a week reduces heat disease risk of women by 30 - 40% (according to a study of 72,000 women aged 40 - 65). A different study showed that the risk is cut to half for men aged 71 - 93.

So what are we waiting for? Walk now, bring umbrella or wear cap if you want, but walk! Dump your motorised vehicle for a short while and soak in the joy of walking.

And hey, one last thing, walk the talk... it's still a walk, but in a different manner, which is very important if you want to achieve something.