Never really give a thought to how walking (and I mean the correct way of walking) can be so beneficial to one's health till I saw this little note from the TV today.
Other than giving toned, lengthened body with improved posture and less skeletal problems, the Maasai's walking stride is said to have been one of the reasons why the tribe suffer almost no heart diseaes, diabetes and their cholestrol level is one third lower than the average of the Americans, despite their diet is almost exclusively milk and meat (with high content of fats and cholesterol). Btw, the Maasia tribe are a semi nomadic people who walk long distances on a regular basis (at least 100,000 steps a day), it is an interesting question to ask, why and how then they suffer only very few back and joint complaints (and they have no cellulite too! Hmph!), which people nowadays will when we've walked a bit too much.
Apparently, instead of landing on one point of our foot (which most of us do), the Massais have the pressure distributing equally along and across the whole foot when walking, and the show continues to elaborate the biomechanics of walking and standing and the effect of it to the upright posture and gait of the Masai, and their heart, diabetes status. Also, according to the show and some research done, such walking has successfully shown to reduce the weight and cholesterol level in 3 weeks time. They have also shown the difference in the ratio of fats broken down with running and walking, and to my surprise, running doesn't break down the fats and walking does. The reduction ain't massive, but certainly positive in such a short period of time. Which is then an implication of being able to reduce others related health problems in long runs.
Now I know why I feel a lot more healthier when I was in Melbourne than now, where walking was one of my chore to save on transportation everyday. =p As if. Maybe true.
Lets do more walking now!
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