7000 steps a day to keep the cardiologist away!

There used to be an expression 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'. It probably still exists, but I don't think people say it as frequently as they once did. Possibly because there is no truth in it! It may not be entirely accurate either, but we could have a saying  '7000 steps a day, keeps the cardiologist away'! I think it is more accurate than apples magically having the power to prevent you from getting sick. There is even some research to back it up, that indicates walking 7,000 steps can lead to a 25% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

For years, we were told we needed to walk 10000 steps in order to maintain cardio health. But in recent years, they seem quite confident that walking around 7,000 steps daily provides significant health benefits, including a reduced risk of heart disease, dementia, and premature death, comparable to the long-promoted 10,000 steps. Walking is a very simple way to maintain or improve your cardiovascular health. Moreover, it's free and doesn't require any special skills or equipment. You can also pick up walking shoes quite cheaply, or just use a comfortable pair of sports shoes. 

Today, the 4th of the October is "Walking Day". The date comes from a pun on "toho" 徒歩 which means to walk or go on foot. October is the 10th month, ten can be read as "to" and four in English is fou in Japanese pronunciation, which sounds like ho; together "toho"! The purpose of the day is to encourage people to regain the habit of walking in their daily lives and lead healthy lives. I never need an excuse to go for a walk, I love walking. And I am very lucky that Kawagoe, pictured, is always such a pleasant town to walk around! Do you like walking in your town?