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REC REPORT: Walking is the best medicine

Grand Forks Recreation recommends a walk a day to keep healthy.

Hippocrates stated, “Walking is a man’s best medicine.” He must have been a smart guy since recent research has proven his statement to be true.

Walking is a simple and free way to improve overall health and well-being. There’s no need for expensive equipment or gym memberships. Walking doesn’t require a coach or a trainer. In fact, most of us started walking when we were around a year old and have been perfecting the technique on our own ever since.

You’d think a simple activity like walking would be easy. But fewer than 50 per cent of us do enough exercise to gain any health or fitness benefits from physical activity.

This is a serious issue, since inactivity is associated with many health issues such as obesity, coronary heart disease, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Inactivity is the second-leading preventable cause of death, second only to tobacco use.

The healthful benefits of walking are numerous. Walking regularly can reduce your risk of many diseases. Walking helps to control body weight and reduces body fat, increases bone density, and enhances personal well-being. It is a low impact activity, minimizing stress on the feet and joints, thus making the risk of injury very low.

Getting started is simple, just get up and put one foot in front of the other. Begin by walking around the block and gradually increase your distance and pace.

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If you need encouragement and would like to walk with a group, join the Love and Sugar walking group meeting in the Grand Forks Arena parking lot on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 7:30 a.m.

The program is free and people of all ages and physical ability are welcome. All you need is a pair of comfortable shoes, water bottle and a smile.

For more information, call Grand Forks Recreation at 442-2202, email us at gfplay@rdkb.com, or visit www.rdkb.com.