As the cold and flu season takes hold, a personal trainer has shared a golden tip for boosting our immune systems and potentially dodging those seasonal sniffles.
According to fitness expert Toby King, there’s a straightforward activity that could not only reduce your likelihood of catching a cold, but also reduce the severity of symptoms if you do.
Speaking to Comfy Beds, Toby King highlighted how the simple exercise might be key to keeping away those irritating symptoms – notorious for keeping you up at night.
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Toby remarked: “The NHS struggles each winter with cold and flu viruses overrunning them, and by walking for 20 minutes a day you could not only help the NHS but keep yourself fit and healthy.
“Studies have shown that aerobic exercise five times a week can cut down on the number of days you are sick by up to 43 percent, and of those who did get sick, they were 41 percent less likely to develop severe symptoms.”
Toby added that while many forms of aerobic activities like dancing, swimming, cycling, or running can boost health, walking reigns supreme due to its simplicity and ease, reports Surrey Live.
Walking for as little as 20 minutes a day can do wonders for your health
(Image: Getty Images/Westend61)
The advice comes at a time when fitting workouts into packed schedules seems daunting, yet according to Toby, a 20-minute stroll is a practical option for even the busiest people.
Toby said: “Whether you go for a morning stroll before your day starts or if you have to break it up into 10-minute intervals throughout the day, getting in 20 minutes of walking will cut your chances of catching a cold. If you push the minutes you can walk for up to 30, you will also see other benefits of lowering your systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
“Other creative ways of incorporating walking into your life include getting creative with your commute, if you drive to work you could park 10 minutes away from your office. A 10-minute journey at the start of the day and the end of the day helps you to reach your required time.”
The nuisance of being kept awake by sniffles is something we all want to avoid, but besides boosting your immune system, walking can also enhance your sleep.
Toby added: “Studies have shown that walking can not only help you to fall asleep faster, sleep longer and improve the overall quality of your sleep. If you aren’t walking, adding daily walks could be an effective, simple way to improve your sleep quality and overall health.”
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