Can Walking Actually Prevent The Common Cold? |
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We all know the saying about the apple, but can walking once a day actually prevent the common cold? I was doing a little research and round a study in late 2006 from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle seemed to indicate that this may indeed be possible. This may be great news for those looking for an extra reason to get more exercise. Sometimes walking can be difficult, here are some timps to keep walking programs interesting.
The study was conducted with 115 women and originally was focusing on how exercising can help reduce the risk of breast cancer. However, in the control group where they were not exercising, the study found that these patients came down with several colds. Those that were exercising did not. To make it even more interesting, the study was being conducted at the height of cold season when it is very easy to catch a cold.
Those that were part of the exercise group were exercised around thirty minutes per day, while the other group did virtually no exercise. It is believed that the immune system was stimulated by the extra activity and began producing more white blood cells. These are often the first line of defense against common colds. It was a pretty easy link to make and it is believed that exercise may be beneficial for preventing numerous types of disease.
Since most of the participants kept their exercise light, often walking, the link was made that walking may actually be the key to preventing the common cold. Dr. Cornelia Ulrich, the lead author of the study commented, “The enhanced immunity was strongest in the final quarter of the year-long exercise intervention. This suggests that when it comes to preventing colds, it’s really important to stick with exercise long-term. In everybody this level of aerobic exercise has been recommended for a number of health outcomes. The women also lost a bit of weight and fresh air could go some way to helping strengthen the immune system.”
Ulrich’s colleagues were intrigued by the findings, but have stated that further research will be necessary to determine whether this link is truly present. In the meantime, proper exercise can benefit anyone, regardless of whether they are trying to lose weight or avoid colds. The key is finding the right balance of activity and making sure that you never exercise when you are already sick.
In addition to proper exercise, find the right diet plan and eating healthy foods can also help you prevent many common diseases. Until it is proven that walking reduces colds, you can try your own study to see if it helps you. Try exercising for at least thirty minutes a day during the next round of cold season and keep a log to see if you get any colds during that period. Chances are, you’ll feel better and you may find that you are getting healthier as well as preventing disease. Since there aren’t many options when it comes to preventing colds, this may be the best bet for many years to come.
Photo Credit: Mussels
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This post deals with:cancer research, common colds, walking
... and focuses on:Sickness Prevention
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July 16th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Excellent post and valid points.
There are many studies implicating that exercise can stengthen your immune system to fight off diseases such as breast cancer, shingles, and even help boost the effectiveness of the flu shot.