The Best and Easiest Way to Live Longer
Been a while since you went for your walk? You might not be so quick to skip it when you hear this:
Walking every day could slash your risk of an early death by 50 percent to 70 percent. Here’s what we mean by that . . .
Fitness Breakdown
Walking is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get — and stay — fit. And few things affect your longevity as much as your fitness level does. Case in point: In a recent study involving a group of veterans, mortality rates were anywhere from 50 percent to 70 percent lower in the ones who were
fittest — regardless of whether they had underlying heart disease.
Walk Boosters
The fitter you are, the better. So here are some tips to help you get more out of your walks:
Clock your baseline fitness levels for comparison.
Be opportunistic. Seek out every chance to walk more.
Try it in reverse.
Take a break at your midpoint.
Work on improving your speed.
Ready, Set, Go
Your gait speed is the speed at which you walk when you’re really trying. Faster walkers may be more resilient and able to bounce back better from a health crisis. Which may explain why the zippy over-65 walkers in a recent study enjoyed lower mortality rates. The magic speed for staying young? At least 2.25 miles per hour for people 65 and older. So time yourself on a treadmill or around the track.
Contingency Plan for Slow Walkers
If you don’t hit the 2-mile-per-hour mark, don’t despair. Improving your gait speed boosts your longevity, too. Start by doing some interval training, where you intermittently pick up the pace for a short distance. Some strength training can help you walk better and stronger, too.
For more great health tips, browse through Encouraging Health.
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