The fast walkers of the world apparently have a leg up on the tortoises among us.
Physicians have long known that one of the best tools to good health doesn’t involve fancy schmancy exercise equipment or a pile of dietary supplements in the medicine cabinet.
Humans are like electronic gizmos with the batteries included. We’re born with two of the best instruments for keeping healthy — our legs.
Walking helps us live longer and keeps us free of mobility disability. Now a British study concludes that walking at a fast pace pumps up our longevity like hot air in a balloon.
Scientists examined the genetic data of more than 400,000 middle-aged people in the UK Biobank and paired that with information on participants’ walking habits. They found that people who walked more briskly had longer telomeres. That’s a good thing.
A word on telomeres. Chromosomes are the long DNA molecules that carry our genetic material. Telomeres are their caps. They protect the chromosome like the cap at the end of a shoelace. Shortened telomeres might impede cell division. That is thought to speed aging.
Telomeres are a good marker of our biological age.
Here’s the jaw-dropper. Researchers estimate speedier walking over a lifetime might extend life expectancy by as much as 16 years.
But it’s never too late to start kicking the legs into a higher gear. Previous research has shown that even 10 minutes of sprightly walking a day can extend life. So, putting extra zip into your step on the way to the bathroom or bus stop or while walking the dog around the block is a boost to well-being, to say nothing of the dog’s.
So, hop to it and beat a path to a healthier life.