Walking is hugely underestimated for its health benefits.
Walking is a fantastic post exercise and treatment recovery activity, supporting the hydration of soft tissue and reducing oxidative stress and tissue damage.
Being outside in green spaces is evidenced to positively impact emotional and mental health. Often elevating moods for two hours post walk, it can spark creativity and often give a new perspective on difficulties you may be experiencing. It is also a great self-care daily habit to have time to yourself.
Biologically walking can reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure and positively impact the metabolic profile in many studies.
Physiology it benefits all body systems, improving lung capacity, heart health, lymphatics, immune health, bone health, co-ordination and muscle strength and increases feelings of calm and safety which positively impacts the nervous and endocrine systems.
It has been evidenced to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hormone driven cancers as well as supporting the reversal of those non communicable diseases into remission alongside good nutrition.
It increases exposure to vitamin D this is especially important during the winter months where studies have found menopausal women have 50% lower levels of vitamin D in the winter, vital for reducing chances of osteoporosis post menopause.
Walking bare foot is especially beneficial to build foot strength, as well as absorption of electrons from the earth, known to support mitochondria functioning. Studies have found people who walk bare foot sleep better and experience less pain, other studies found positive changes in the electrical activity of the brain , heart rate variability, improve glucose regulation, reduced perceived stress levels and supported the improvement of immune function; lastly another study found that walking barefoot decreased blood viscosity and regulated the endocrine and nervous system.
Walking is also a wonderful opportunity to listen to a podcast or book, or take photos of nature, enjoy some peace. Personally I love watching how ridiculously happy my dog is the entire time .
Todays book is the sequel to the Brain Chimp, for anyone who loves learning about the human mind, it’s called
A path through the jungle.
Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S. T., Oschman, J. L., & Delany, R. M. (2013). Earthing (grounding) the human body reduces blood viscosity—a major factor in cardiovascular disease. The journal of alternative and complementary medicine, 19(2), 102-110.
Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S. T., Oschman, J. L., Sokal, K., & Sokal, P. (2012). Earthing: health implications of reconnecting the human body to the earth's surface electrons. Journal of environmental and public health, 2012.
Rizzoli, R., Bischoff-Ferrari, H., Dawson-Hughes, B., & Weaver, C. (2014). Nutrition and bone health in women after the menopause. Women’s Health, 10(6), 599-608.
Prasertsri, P., Phoemsapthawee, J., Kuamsub, S., Poolpol, K., & Boonla, O. (2022). Effects of long-term regular continuous and intermittent walking on oxidative stress, metabolic profile, heart rate variability, and blood pressure in older adults with hypertension. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2022.
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Fournier, A., Dos Santos, G., Guillas, G., Bertsch, J., Duclos, M., Boutron-Ruault, M. C., ... & Mesrine, S. (2014). Recent recreational physical activity and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women in the E3N cohort. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention, 23(9), 1893-1902.
Chevalier, G., Sinatra, S. T., Oschman, J. L., Sokal, K., & Sokal, P. (2012). Earthing: health implications of reconnecting the human body to the earth's surface electrons. Journal of environmental and public health, 2012.
Sokal, P., & Sokal, K. (2011). The neuromodulative role of earthing. Medical hypotheses, 77(5), 824-826.
Craft LL, Perna FM. The Benefits of Exercise for the Clinically Depressed. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2004;6(3):104-111. doi: 10.4088/pcc.v06n0301. PMID: 15361924; PMCID: PMC474733.
