A recent study found that brisk walking lessens the risk of heart disease more than running, when both physical activities were compared and the same amount of energy was used. That means, you really can walk your way to better heart health!

The researchers studied 33,060 runners and 15,045 walkers aged 18 to 80 over a period of six years. The results showed several benefits of walking. A point to pay attention to is that the benefits of walking outweighed the benefits of running when the same amount of energy was used.

For every calorie burned, the walking participants experienced a stronger impact on heart disease risk factors, and walking ultimately reduced the total risk of heart disease by 9.3 percent. Running reduced the risk of heart disease by only 4.5 percent.

The benefits of walking found in the study seemed to be endless! The risk of high blood pressure was reduced by 7.2 percent in the walking participants, while the runners experienced only a 4.2 percent reduced risk of high blood pressure.

Additionally, the risk of high cholesterol was reduced by 7 percent in the walking participants, while runners experienced a 4.3 percent reduction.

The study also found that the risk of diabetes was lowered by 12 percent for both walkers and runners.

At its most basic level, the study shows that it’s important to stay active to lower your risk of harmful diseases. Remaining sedentary isn’t doing your body any favors, so stand up, start walking, or hit the gym!

“People are always looking for an excuse not to exercise but now they have a straightforward choice to run or to walk and invest in their future health,” study leader Dr. Paul Williams, from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, said.

We’ve relayed our love of adjustable height desks, and showed the benefits of standing countless times, but if you want to greatly improve your health, and shed pounds along the way, you may want to think about a treadmill desk.

You can experience the same benefits as the walking participants by using a treadmill to accompany your adjustable height desk. Think about it: reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol – all symptoms the body is exposed to the longer it remains sedentary.

Whether you choose to add a treadmill to your standing desk and walk to better health, or decide to hit the gym after work, just make sure to stay active on a daily basis!

The study was reported in the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. See the story from The Guardian.

The post Walking Reduces Risk of Heart Disease Compared to Running appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Walking can reduce the risk of diabetes, prevent cancer and boost your brain function.

If you want to know how good for you walking is, read on. But to feel it for yourself, here is a simple experiment: One day at work, try just sitting down all day in front of your desk. Get everything done. Then go home.

The next day, try using a treadmill desk—if you don’t have one yet, try just taking walking breaks as often as you can. Walk down the hall rather than send a co-worker an email, walk up the stairs, or take walking meetings. Just keep moving!

Compare the days and I know you will find that on day two you were more productive, felt healthier, more energetic, looser, lighter, and probably happier overall (Unless you turned your ankle or something the second you stepped out the door. In which case, sorry about that!).

Why does walking feel so good? In today’s post we’ll go over 7 reasons why walking is good for your health.

1) Walking can help you lose weight.
The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 6-10 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.

Neighborhoods with poor walkability are barriers to physical activity. Research shows that people walk more if living in a walkable neighborhood. If you can’t help but live in a sprawling area, do what more and more people are doing these days and invest in a treadmill desk.

2) Walking can help prevent cancer.
Yes, really. Just one quick example: Women who walked 1 to 3 hours per week had reduced the risk of death from breast and uterine cancer by 19 percent. When they walked 3 to 5 hours per week, their risks of the same cancers were reduced by 54 percent, according to a study by Harvard University.

3) Walking can reduce your risk of diabetes.
A recent study of more than 3,000 overweight adults found that walking 2.5 hours per week (along with a healthy diet) reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 58 percent. For overweight adults 60 years and older, the risk was reduced to 71 percent.

4. Walking can keep your arteries unclogged.
In the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, a study found that exercise before a meal may help stem the effects of high-fat foods on blood vessel function. Unclogged vessels and arteries keep blood circulating throughout the body.

5) Walking can help prevent heart disease.
Studies show that as walking increases, heart disease decreases. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, retired men who walked more than 1.5 miles per day had a significantly lower risk for heart disease (compared to men who walk less).

6) Walking can reduce blood pressure.
Getting the recommended 10,000 steps a day, or even a minimal 30 minutes of walking each day can significantly reduce blood pressure.

7) Walking can boost your brain.
Many studies prove that exercise can improve mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. It is also shown that physical activity (like walking) can help boost self-esteem and brain function. So, want to get out of a rut? Try going for a walk.

Of course, as mentioned above, in the best possible scenario you will be able to walk around your city, to work, to the store… But we can’t all live in New York (though with the population density, it seems people are trying!).

So what is the next best thing? Walk while you work. Take breaks, get outside and enjoy the fresh air, try working remotely from the park, and when you’re in the office, try using a treadmill desk like the new Xdesk Fit.

No matter how you do it, just keep walking. Your body will thank you for it!

Do you use a treadmill desk? Have you noticed a difference in the way you feel at work and after?

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