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Celebrate National Wellness Month by Walking or Biking!

Biking by the water

Riding a bike and taking a walk have a wide range of benefits, one of the most important of which is being great for personal health. August is National Wellness Month, and physical activities like walking and biking help keep your mind and body well. 

Life has been hard  and taking care of your well-being has never been more important. Wellness is about ongoing acts to feel happier and healthier, and walking and biking can help get you there. 

When you go outside and walk or bike, the body's nervous system, which carries messages to and from the body, produces those brain chemicals called endorphins that stimulate relaxation and happiness. Those feel-good endorphins are also the body's natural painkillers, inhibiting the communication of pain signals. 

People who walk or bike tend to suffer less from depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Physical activity lowers levels of the body's stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol too. 

Logging time every day getting your steps in, or pedaling around, will help improve energy, as well as overall mental health. So, step it up, and don't be sedentary!

Being active is one of the best things you can do for physical wellness. Walking and biking improve cardiovascular fitness, build stronger bones, strengthen muscles, and help with endurance. 

Exercise even strengthens your body's defense system by increasing the number of immune cells that attack pathogens in the body.

Regularly walking and biking will also help you rest better at night, actually improving the quality of your sleep. 

With August as National Wellness Month, here is an opportunity to take up walking or biking to enhance your sense of well-being. Wellness is more than just not getting sick it is about developing habits that support physical and mental health. 

Photo Credit: Getty Images