The Best Thing to Do for Your Health

Credit: Flickr /Mike Baird

Flickr /Mike Baird

If you do nothing else for your health, make sure you take this doctor’s advice

The secret to good health is so simple, there’s no excuse not to do it

A Facebook friend recently shared a terrific video by Dr. Mike Evans, who works at the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital.

I thought the advice was so simple and backed by such enormous evidence that I had to share it with BC Living readers.

The good doctor provides some compelling statistics that exercise and, specifically, walking provides tremendous long-term health benefits.

And it only takes 30 minutes a day!

Looking at the stats for people who don’t exercise versus people who do, you wonder why anyone would choose not to.

But I know people find all sorts of reasons to skip it. Being short on time is probably the most common.

So if you can’t find 30 minutes a day, I suggest you start with 30 minutes per week.

If you can’t find 30 minutes in a week then you’ve got some serious time management issues. I can guarantee that everyone, no matter how busy, can find five minutes in a day to do something physical.

From there you can build up to the full 30 minutes simply by adding a minute or two per day.

While Dr. Evans cites walking as the simplest and easiest way to get some exercise in, I’d add that some strength training should also be a requisite. At least a couple of times per week. Start with something basic like plain old pushups and squats. Do five to 10 repetitions of each if you’re just starting out. Add one or two repetitions each week.

Of course if you’re in better shape and already working out you can try a more advanced strength training routine.

Listen to the good doctor and take his advice. Exercise is the best medicine going!