Walking Could Be Key To Reducing Chronic Back Pain.
Lower back pain affects 800 million people globally, but a new Australian study says walking may be a simple, accessible long-term solution. Published in The Lancet, the study found that those who walked three to five times a week stayed pain-free twice as long as non-walkers. Since seven in ten people experience back flare-ups each year, researchers say regular walking can nearly cut the risk of the pain returning in half. The study's senior author, Professor Mark Handcock, said, “We don’t know exactly why walking is so good,” but possible reasons include “spinal movement, endorphins, and stress relief.” Hancock advised starting with short walks and gradually increasing distance and intensity as fitness improves, rather than jumping into intense routines. Researchers tracked 701 adults over three years, mostly women in their 50s, splitting them into a walking program group and a no-treatment group. The walking group took fewer sick days and needed less medical care, showing strong results for a no-cost approach to managing pain. While typical treatments include physio, stretching, or even surgery, walking is low-cost, widely accessible, and suitable for nearly everyone.
2025-04-17T10:00:50Z
Getting Older? Here Are 12 Foods to Drop—and 12 You’ll Want to Keep Around
Aging is a wild ride, isn’t it? One minute you’re scarfing down pizza rolls at 2 a.m. without a care in the world, and the next you’re reading food labels like they’re ancient scrolls predicting your cholesterol future. Welcome to adulthood, where your body politely (and sometimes not-so-politely) lets you know that it has zero tolerance for your bad dietary decisions. The truth is, as we age, our metabolism slows down, our bones get a little more fragile, and our hearts and brains need a bit more TLC. That doesn’t mean you have to live on steamed broccoli and disappointment—but it does mean making smarter choices at mealtime. So, before you reach for that mystery meat sandwich or crack open a third energy drink, let’s talk food. More specifically—12 foods to kick to the curb as you age, and 12 that totally deserve a spot on your plate.
2025-04-15T14:15:46Z