Kids walking home from school

Fans of Eva Gabor, I have news for you:  It turns out Green Acres really is “the place to be.”

The eponymous 1965 television sitcom aired a wee bit before my time, but as I understand it, “Green Acres” centered on the life of two city slickers who move from the hustle and bustle of urban dwellings to the idyllic country side.

There are pluses and minuses to urban and rural living; Gabor’s character Lisa Douglas and Eddie Albert’s character Oliver illustrated this throughout the series’ six-year run, I’m sure. But from the standpoint of physical activity, one thing’s certain:  living in the countryside breeds more active lifestyles than urban settings, according to a study reported by the American Heart Association.

Now, this might come off as sounding obvious.  After all, if there’s more room to move around, then there’s obviously more opportunity to take advantage of all those “wide open spaces,” as the Dixie Chicks might say (sorry, I’m doing my best to channel a country-livin’ lifestyle despite my urban dwelling background).  But more and more parks and recreational activities are being built in cities.  In fact, in Boston, officials have dedicated millions of dollars to building more bicycle pathways to curb the prevalence of traffic jams.  And as I can attest, New York City streets are always loaded with people walking to and from their destinations – whether it’s in the dead of winter or in the life of spring.

Nevertheless, farm livin’ is best for healthy, active lifestyles – at least according to researchers from the University of Montreal and their study that looked into the itinerancy rates of children born to at least one obese parent. 

The cleverly titled “QUALITY” study – an acronym for the Quebec Adipose and Lifestyle Investigation in Youth – followed 600 kids from 300 families.  The aim was to identify what biological and environmental factors contributed to excess weight in children (the rate of childhood obesity has increased three fold since the late 1980s).

One of the environmental factors they looked into was park availability and if availability (availability meaning how many parks there were, how close they were to the kids’ schools and homes) translated into more active lifestyles. 

What they found was that for every park that was located within one half-mile of kids’ homes, they were that much more likely to walk to and from school.

(This is a classic example of environment influencing behavior – for all you nature vs. nurture buffs!).

For example, among girls, park availability made them 60 percent more likely to engage in what the researchers call “purpose driven” walking; among boys, they were 50 percent more likely to “leisure walk.”

Again, this is a classic case of environment influencing behavior.  Kids typically aren’t as concerned with health, particularly today with the “rise of the machines” (iPods, video games, PCs, and Segways).  But given the opportunity, they’ll take advantage.

Of course, not everyone has this opportunity; responsibilities and job limitations often, well, limit the ability to move to rural locales.  If this is the case, do your best to look for areas in the city that are near to parks and recreational facilities.  More and more cities are dedicating funds to sidewalks and bike pathway construction to curb pollution and untie traffic back-ups. 

Perhaps these University of Montreal researchers will conduct a future study on city dwelling to see if cities’ recent renovations have borne fruit.

In the meantime, I guess the old cliché of “location, location, location,” really does matter, particularly when it comes to physical activity.

Source:
Science Daily

The researcher’s measured the men’s blood pressure after their 40 minute walk and four different sessions of a 10 minute brisk walk. When the term “brisk” is used this generally means the speed of about 3-4 miles per hour; very casual. Their blood pressure readings dropped considerably after each walking session. The top number in the blood pressure reading dropped an amazing 5 points after the 40 minute walk and 3 points following the shorter brisk walking sessions. The bottom number dropped consistently 2 points after each form of exercise.

When it comes to exercising on a regular basis there are more people who say they don’t have time to go to the gym or participate in an exercise program. If this sounds like you why not take the time for a walk each night after dinner? This is all it takes to help lower your blood pressure and maintain good health. The researcher’s involved in this study believe that these results can be maintained as long as the men involved continue with their walking. Walking offers more benefits than what this study has found. Dozens of studies have been done in the past looking closer at what a simple walk can do for our health.

Some of these additional benefits include:

· Reduce risk of heart disease and stroke.
· Reduce high cholesterol.
· Decrease the amount of body fat we carry.
· Maintain a healthy weight.
· Enhance our mental state.
· Increase bone density.
· Promote flexibility and coordination to reduce falls as we age.

This is just a small list of the many other benefits we can receive from a simple walk. You do not have to run for miles at the gym in order to remain healthy, all it takes is a brisk walk to reduce health risks and conditions. High blood pressure is the number one cause for many other conditions we suffer from as well. Although it may seem common and far from dangerous it can lead to other conditions when it is not treated from the beginning. Take control of your life and your health and enjoy a walk each and every day to lower your blood pressure levels.

This study was based on research and collective data from 300,000 Swedish golfers. There are several different aspects of the game of golf, which can be seen as beneficial for your health in more ways than one. If you are an avid golfer then you may already know that when you head out for a round of golf you are gone for at least 4 hours. Although you do have the option to rent a golf cart, choosing to walk the course is one of the reasons this sport is so beneficial for your health. Also, the fact that you are able to play golf into your elderly years is definitely a bonus. As we get older there are few activities we can take part in and the ability to golf is something that is never lost.

The researchers from within this study have stated that the lower the handicap you have the better you can increase your life expectancy. Of course, if you have a low handicap it is because you play on a regular and constant basis, which is great for your health no matter how young or old you may be. Many of the younger generations are beginning to take part in the game of golf and starting out at a young age is a great way to get a handle on the game for your elderly years. In the past, the game of golf was considered to be only for the elderly but today more and more people are beginning to enjoy this relaxing form of exercise.

The benefits of regular and moderate exercise are limitless today and now with this study proving the power of golf, many people can enhance their health and enjoy the fun of the sport. With the summer months practically here, men and women are searching for activities they can take part in to help maintain their weight and promote a healthy body and golf is a great place to start. It can be a frustrating game for those who are new to it but as you begin to get the hang of it, you will want to walk the course each and every day. It is nothing less than a full body workout with the walking from each green as well as the swinging, which works all your upper body muscles. Never underestimate what moderate exercise can do for you.

In the past the majority of people believed that in order to remain healthy and lose weight you have to perform and take part in intense workouts, which left you breathless and gasping for air. This is not true. Simply walking through the golf course and enjoying the sport has been proved to be enough to prolong your life by 5 years for most men and women within the study. Get rid of these old thoughts and step into the present where studies and researchers are proving what activities are best for you and your overall health.

This study shows that walking 30 minutes a day actually raises your white blood cell count and these are the blood cells which are fighting the diseases and colds. Therefore by exercising daily you are temporarily raising your white blood cell count that will help fight the many colds and viruses floating around you everyday. Of course it is important to create a healthy balance between good hygiene and daily exercise such as walking. By washing your hands frequently you are taking an active stand against the colds trying to infect your immune system.

Frank Mangano’s commentary:

I’ve been advocating the importance of daily walks since I began my mission in alternative health. Walking is a simple exercise which has the capability to maintain your fitness level and do so many other things. Some of the most common benefits of walking include controlling your blood pressure, decreasing risk of heart attack, protecting you against hip fractures and can boost good cholesterol. This is just a very small taste of the different health benefits walking can produce for those who use it on a steady basis. You cannot expect to see results when you walk 5 days a week one week and only one the next and maybe only 3 the week after that. This is not a steady focus on your health and you will see no results from this method. You have to make a commitment to your health and maintain a walking routine of 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week and this is at the low end of the scale. You can choose to do more if you like but make sure to keep the intensity level the same throughout each of your walks. 

Choosing to walk with a partner is a great way to keep your motivation high and your routine on a steady basis. That’s what I do. This way you can have someone to chat with during your walks and you both can help increase your health status on a day to day basis. During the winter months, walking through your neighborhood may not seem as inviting and for this time of year community centers and gyms are the perfect place for you. These places are not only for those who choose an intense workout, the treadmills and even walking through the building itself are great options for those looking to maintain their routine when the weather is not cooperating.

Consider this study when you are thinking of skipping your daily walk, there are so many ailments that can come your way as you get older, why not make the effort to avoid them as much as you can, with such an easy exercise?

A group of 749 adults over the age of 65 volunteered for this study. The researchers found that those in the group who walked regularly or participated in other types of exercise regularly were less likely to develop forms of vascular dementia over the next four years. Vascular dementia is caused by an impaired blood flow to the brain. This could mean blockages which prevent blood flow to the brain or complete blockages that can cause a stroke. People with conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure are also at a great risk of vascular dementia.

Basically what this study has discovered is that the same exercises which are good for the heart, healthy diet and exercise may be good for an aging brain as well. Over the four years during the study, 86 patients were diagnosed with dementia and 27 with vascular dementia. The study found that patients who walked at least 30 minutes a day, everyday, were 73% less likely to be diagnosed with this disease. Also, patients who took part in other activities such as yoga, or biking were 76% less likely to be diagnosed as well.

Frank Mangano’s Commentary:

It may be the simple blood flow to the brain during exercise and it may also stimulate the release key of chemicals into the brain to develop new brain cells. By keeping the brain stimulated and active, people over the age of 65 can be preventing vascular dementia as well as maintaining a healthy body.

Walking and other forms of moderate exercising is something everyone should be including in their everyday routines. This is not the only study which has shown the benefits of walking can be incredibly beneficial for not only your physical health but your mental health as well. Walking can manage your weight adequately, decrease the risk of heart attack, lower your risk of stroke and lower cholesterol levels, reduce risk of breast cancer and the list can go on and on. Walking is the ultimate natural way to keep you in good physical condition but many people are not aware of their mental conditions. Walking is a moderate exercise that provides results in more ways than one.

By including a 30-minute walk in your everyday routine you are keeping your brain stimulated in a relaxed manner and keeping your physical appearance and health in strong form for your older years. As studies have shown that a brisk walk can actually increase your lifespan, it is definitely something you should be doing. Now go for a walk!