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Best Reason to "Green" Your Walk
This Week's Tips
Give your walking workout more green by hiking trails or parks instead of asphalt and concrete. You'll do your heart a huge favor.
Car pollution in high-traffic zones isn't just bad for your lungs. It can really test your ticker, too.
The Air Apparent
In a study, men who previously had heart attacks (but had stable heart disease) exercised while being exposed for short periods to traffic-equivalent levels of diesel exhaust. The result? Reduced blood flow to their hearts. Not a good thing for anyone, but especially worrisome for people with heart problems. (Find out more about the impact that particulate matter can have on your health.)
Clean Air Acts
Here are three more ways to make your workout greener.
- Toss the water bottle and drink from the tap. (Find out how long it takes just one water bottle to biodegrade.)
- Go natural. Instead of using energy with treadmills or fans, walk in a park with a cool breeze. If you have to walk near roads, pick low-traffic times. (Here's a workout that uses your own body as the gym.)
- Recycle your shoes! Nike, The Shoe Bank, and several other organizations have programs where you can donate your old sneakers.
Is your home toxic? Read this article and take the quiz to see if your home passes the test.
RealAge Benefit:
Exposure to air pollution and environmental toxins can make your RealAge as much as 2.8 years older.
