Wendy and I are not that keen on exercise, but we do make sure we get our 10,000 steps in every day! It’s not too hard considering how busy we are, but we do try to make sure at least half of our steps are accumulated outside, because we know that the health benefits of fresh air are huge! Every cell in your body relies upon a constant, fresh stream of oxygen, so if you stay indoors or in an air-conditioned environment for long periods of time, you’re breathing in the same stuffy and stale air over and over again. Here’s why simply stepping outdoors and breathing in some fresh air will give your health a boost…..
- Brain fog anybody? Wendy and I both get days when we can’t think straight (most days actually! 😊) thanks to perimenopause and menopause! But all is not lost. 20% of the oxygen we breathe in is used by the brain. Increasing the amount of fresh air you breathe provides greater clarity to the brain, helping you to think, focus and concentrate better.
- Fresh air is mood boosting! The release of Serotonin (our happy hormone) is affected by the amount of oxygen you have in your blood. Serotonin promotes a sense of well-being, so the more fresh air you have, the better you’ll feel. We definitely feel more relaxed and much more refreshed after a long walk.
- Fresh air is great for your lung health. When sitting indoors, it’s common to shallow breathe. When walking or jogging outdoors, it encourages you to breathe more deeply, drawing more air deep into the bottom of your lungs. This not only brings more oxygen into your cells but helps the lungs to rid your body of toxins and cleanses from the inside.
- Increased oxygen improves the function and efficiency of everything your body does, including hormone production, digestion, tissue renewal and muscle contraction. It also helps to improve blood pressure and heart rate. Try to avoid polluted environments though, particularly if you need to improve blood pressure as your body will have to work harder to get the amount of oxygen it needs. We want to breathe in the freshest air possible.
Wendy and I find we are amazingly productive when we’re on a long walk, chatting through new ideas and business goals, much more so than when we’re sitting in the office. Going for a walk also means you might find a nice pub along the way too, so…. (insert the shoulder shrug emoji and a wink emoji maybe?)
It’s a lovely day outside today so maybe take yourself off for a walk and see the benefits for yourself! Make sure you’ve applied a good quality SPF before you go to protect your skin, even if it’s not that bright and sunny. We both wear SPF every day, whatever the weather. I like to use one as natural as possible, but most either give me spots or leave a white cast on my face due to the zinc. If you’re having the same problem, then I recommend trying Tropic’s Sun Day SPF 50. I really like it and haven’t had any problems with it. Wendy likes Drunk Elephant’s Umbra Sheer SPF 30 as an alternative recommendation.
Do let us know if there are any particularly nice walks in your area that you can share on our Facebook page so that others who live near to you can enjoy it too! Happy walking! x