Why Walking for 20 Minutes in the Morning Can Improve Your Health

This is a follow-up to last week's blog.  Here’s why something as simple as walking outdoors for 20 minutes each morning can radically improve your health.
 

• Walking briskly for one hour increases your life expectancy by two hours. Twenty minutes outdoors gives most people the adequate amount of vitamin D they need each day.
• Walking gets the pineal gland to stop producing melatonin. Melatonin is released when it is dark out and causes you to fall asleep.  Reduced levels of melatonin help you wake up.
• Walking is good for the heart, keeps muscles strong, keeps tendons and ligaments flexible, and supports your joints.
• Walking increases blood flow throughout the body.  It gets your heart rate up, lowering blood pressure and reducing your risk of stroke.
• Walking helps regulate your mood by telling the body to release dopamine, which causes decreased stress and depression.  It also causes increased levels of serotonin which helps you sleep and boosts your mood.
• Walking boosts the immune system, limiting the number of days you’ll be sick and minimizing symptoms if you do catch a cold or flu.

 
If you’ve tried to start walking or exercising and haven’t been able to continue with a steady practice there are some tricks to keep you motivated.  Take a look at my blog, "Creating One New Habit." .
 
If you aren’t able to walk because it causes pain, consider scheduling a free ½ hour consultation with me.  We can talk about ways that treatments can help reduce inflammation, lower pain levels and get you more relaxed and on track to achieve your treatment goals.

Know that I’m here to support and guide you on your journey to health!
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Sending healing energy…
 
Bonnie