Walking for Exercise and Better Insurance Coverage

I'd Walk A Mile For A.....

Do you remember that tag line from an ad campaign from long ago? It was for an unhealthy product that I'm not going into. This is about walking a mile for something much more important.

I live close to a walking/jogging/bicycling trail and spend some time there almost everyday. It has become part of my daily routine, a must do that is included in each day's ritual. To tell the truth, I feel odd on a day that I don't walk.

What are the benefits? Some are obvious and some you may not have thought of.

Physical Benefits of Walking:

“Walking improves fitness, cardiac health, alleviates depression and fatigue, improves mood, creates less stress on joints and reduces pain, can prevent weight gain, reduce risk for cancer and chronic disease, improve endurance, circulation, and posture, and the list goes on…”

When comparing the results of the most recent National Runners’ Health Study with the National Walkers’ Health Study, researchers found that the energy used for moderate-intensity walking and vigorous-intensity running resulted in similar reductions in risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease over the study’s six year period.

A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that those who adhered to a walking program showed significant improvements in blood pressure, slowing of resting heart rate, reduction of body fat and body weight, reduced cholesterol, improved depression scores with better quality of life and increased measures of endurance.

Mental Benefits of Walking:

While the physical benefits are notable, the mental boost that can be gleaned from adding a walk to your daily routine may be more immediate.

One Stanford University study found that walking increased creative output by an average of 60 percent. Researchers labelled this type of creativity “divergent thinking,” which they define as a thought process used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. According to the study, “walking opens up the free flow of ideas, and it is a simple and robust solution to the goals of increasing creativity and increasing physical activity.”

In short, a good walk clears my head.

Walking and Better Insurance Coverage:

The bottom line is a daily walk and regular exercise can lower your premiums for life and health insurance. Ads for life insurance include quotes which are really low.... super preferred rates.... hidden in the fine print. Only 3% of all life applicants qualify for this elite status and you may not make this exclusive club but you can earn a better rating with good health.

The first thing to do when shopping for life insurance coverage is to speak with an independent agent who can do a health analysis. This only takes 5 -10 minutes and can give you the best carriers and the best premiums for the coverage you are looking for. This is not an application for coverage...don't worry...you will not be obligated to do anything.

Now... put your shoes on and hit the trail.