Is 10,000 steps a day really the magic number to fitness?
According to LiveScience, Experts say that while 10,000 steps a day is a good number to reach, any amount of activity beyond what you’re currently doing will likely benefit your health. Studies suggest that people who increased their walking to 10,000 steps daily experience health benefits.
One study found that women who increased their step count to nearly 10,000 steps a day reduced their blood pressure after 24 weeks. Another study of overweight women found that walking 10,000 steps a day improved their glucose levels.
Walking 10,000 steps a day is not an official recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Instead, the agency recommends adults engage in 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as brisk walking. To meet the CDC’s recommendation, you need to walk about 7,000 to 8,000 steps a day.
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Reading makes your brain work smarter
According to lifehack.org, whether you love old classic comic books or the New York Times, brain researchers tell us that reading actually increases brain function in several areas.
It stimulates the growth of new neural pathways as we absorb new information. Reading flexes those parts of the brain that deal with problem-solving, seeing patterns, and interpreting what others are saying to us about their feelings.
It also improves memory, builds on prior learning (more neural connections), and exercises parts of the brain that allow imagination.
Some research also points to speed-reading as a method to increase synapses (electrical connections between regions of the brain), since the brains must process sensory information quickly. Indeed, for many students, speed-reading is a valuable skill.
