How Walking Improves Your Overall Health

A walk a day keeps the doctor away! We know that’s not how the old saying goes, but walking is one of the best ways to improve and maintain your overall health. The temps are starting to drop (just a little), which means the gorgeous, crisp fall air is right around the corner. There’s no better time to take advantage of the great outdoors, than now. Physical activity doesn’t have to be rigorous or dreadful, it can be something you enjoy, such as walking! Consistency is key!

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say more than 145 million adults now include walking as part of their physical activity. Chances are, you had no idea there are as many health benefits to walking, as there are. Just 30 minutes a day is proven to increase your cardiovascular fitness, strengthen your bones and muscles, release tension, give you a better nights sleep, help with digestion, and boost your metabolism. And here is how: 

Improves Endurance

Each time you walk, you are building up your stamina and cardio strength. Even runners incorporate walking into their routine, to help increase their endurance. Walking may take longer, but it bestows the same endurance as running and also reduces the risk of injury. Every step you take makes your heart that much stronger. 

Strengthens Bones & Muscles

Weight-bearing physical activity, such as walking, causes new bone tissue to form, leading to stronger bones. In addition, your muscles will strengthen and your balance will improve each time you get out and get active. This helps reduce falls and fractures. 

Releases Stress

Walking gives your mind a boost and improves energy levels. Like all forms of cardiovascular exercise, a brisk walk will boost endorphins. This leads to a reduction in stress hormones, mental clarity, and alleviates mild depression.

Provides Better Nights Sleep

Getting out and walking will not only trim you down, but will also give you a better nights sleep. Physical activity will boost natural sleep hormones (such as melatonin), which will keep you up less often at night. Be careful, as exercising too close to the time you go to sleep might keep you up!

Helps with Digestion

Walking can help you digest your food and boost your metabolism. How does it do this? It aids in the breaking down of food and improves your blood sugar levels. Sometimes a short walk after a meal is a good thing.  


The CDC reports that adults need at least 2.5 hours a week of aerobic physical activity. This should be at a moderate level, such as a fast-paced walk for no less than 10 minutes at a time. The CDC also says less than half of all adults get that recommended amount of physical activity. 

The best thing about walking is that it doesn’t require any kind of equipment or training. It is very low impact, you can do it anytime and anywhere, and you set the pace. It is a great form of physical activity for truly anyone, any age, and mostly any condition.

Did you know that walkable communities result in more physically active populations, that’s according to the CDC. We are lucky to live in Coastal Georgia, where the communities we live in offer some of the best walking spots around. There are so many beautiful and historic sights, nature trails, and iconic parks in our backyard. Here is a short list of ExperCARE’s favorite spots to take a stroll:

Savannah

  • Forsyth Park
  • River Street
  • Historic Wormsloe Site
  • Bluff Drive
  • Lake Mayer
  • Skidaway Island State Park
  • Tybee Island Beach

Richmond Hill

  • J.F. Gregory Park 
  • Sterling Creek Park
  • Fort McAllister State Park
  • Green Creek Trail

Don’t forget! One of the best places to take a stroll is just out your front door – Your neighborhood! Making it easy, makes consistency more likely! Whether we decide to walk our dogs through our neighborhoods, go for a run at Forsyth Park, or get our history on walking through Fort McAllister State Park, getting physical is a must. No matter what you do, get out and get active.

5 Tips from ExperCARE

Ready or not… here it comes! A fun, hot summer has come to a close and it’s time for back to school. Back to school means early mornings, a daily routine, hours of classes, and a chance for kids to learn, grow, and become more independent. But school can also translate to a place of sneezing, sniffles, and sharing more than just your child’s summer memories. Here are five tips to help keep the back to school transition as healthy and germ-free as possible! 

  1. Get Plenty of Sleep: Sleep is even more important than you think. Setting a bedtime routine and a consistent sleep schedule helps improve your child’s physical and emotional health, and also plays an important role in how they perform in school. Children aged 6-13 are supposed to get 9-11 hours of sleep. But why? Between school, friends, chores, sports, after school activities, and homework… Their bodies and brains need a break. 
  2. Maintain a Healthy Diet & Drink Plenty of Fluids: A strong immune system helps ward off those illnesses floating around the school hallways. Breakfast, as you know, is the most important meal of the day… especially for our kids. A balanced breakfast jump starts their day and gives them the brain power and capability to maintain steady energy from the time they leavethe house in the morning to the time they get home. If you’re able, pack a healthy lunch for your child. Make it fun, colorful, and delicious so that they’ll enjoy the meal. After they hop off the school bus, prepare a nutritious after-school snack for them like fruits, veggies, string cheese, or protein.  Allow them to grocery shop with you, so they can help pick out these healthy snacks and lunches… It’ll make it more fun! It’s also important to have your child drink lots of water. Hydration is critical for proper immune system function. Drink early (starting first thing in the morning) and drink enough (according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a child of about 88 pounds should drink 5 ounces of cold water every 20 minutes). Don’t forget about hydrating before and after outdoor activities and sports.
  3. Be Up-to-date on Your Vaccinations: It can seem overwhelming as a parent, but vaccines are some of the safest and most effective medicines we have. The CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend a vaccination schedule that covers about 14 different diseases. Vaccinations not only protect your child from deadly diseases, but they also keep other children safe.
  4. Stay Active: Physical activity helps prevent and reduce health problems for our children. When kids are active, their bodies can do the things they want them to do. Teaching them these healthy, active habits at an early age helps lead to a lifetime of enjoying physical activity, especially as schedules get busier, demands are heightened at school, and sports become more competitive. Active lifestyles translate to a healthy weight, better sleep, stronger muscles and bones, and a more positive perspective on life.
  5. Wash Your Hands Regularly :It’s such a no brainer, and seems obvious, but often times is forgotten. Encourage your kids to get in the habit of washing their hands after coughing, sneezing, petting animals, eating food, using the bathroom, and just regularly. Every time your child touches someone or something they risk spreading germs. 

And of course, if your child comes down with the back to school bug (or runs a fever), keep them home and away from school to protect that bug from spreading. 

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