Andi Breitowich writes for Oprah Daily on the two biggest forms of activity Americans are engaging in: walking and weight-lifting. Which one will help you live longer? Or, are they equally beneficial?
To be sure, both walking and weight-lifting offer tremendous health benefits. Walking is good for your heart. Weight-lifting and other strength training is good for building your muscles, bone density and strength.
The experts in this article give compelling reasons as to why both have their virtues. You want a healthy brain and a sharp mind in order to live independently and happily as well as to avoid accidents. Both walking and strength training are great for brain health for different reasons.
Walking helps ensure your brain has good blood flow. You get oxygen and nutrients to your brain to help with memory and thought. It reduces stress. You sleep better. If you walk as much as five miles or 10,000 steps each day it can lower your likelihood of dementia.
Lifting weights leads to cell growth that allows new neurons to form in your brain. It can help with memory, attention and planning functions. So, ideally, you want to both walk and lift weights.
Some say that weight-lifting is superior to walking, if you can only do one. Weight-lifting builds stronger and denser bones that help with balance and improves your movement. It also reduces your risk of falling and staves off bone fractures as you age. Walking a lot keeps you from losing bone as you age and lessens your risk of osteoporosis.
For heart health, walking is superior to weight-lifting, in particular, increasing circulation, reducing blood pressure and keeping your cholesterol level healthy. Heart disease is the number one killer for women. That said, weight-lifting also strengthens your heart, reducing body fat.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Lifting weights may help you think better
- Strength training promotes longevity
- Aerobic exercise may be best medicine for your brain and body
- The health benefits of a microwalk
- What counts as enough exercise?
