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Monday, October 20, 2025

What Is Better For Your Body – Walking Or Running?

On the face of it, you might figure that when covering the same distance – say, a mile – you would burn the same number of calories whether you walk or run. After all, while walking is less strenuous, it takes longer for a walker to cover the distance.

But running requires much more effort than walking – you’re actually jumping from one foot to the other as you propel yourself forward, a major muscular undertaking. Bottom line: running burns 50 percent more calories than walking over any given distance, even though running takes less time.

Still, I think walking is the best exercise choice for most of us, particularly as we get older. Walking may not burn as many calories as running, but it offers the great advantage of being a practical substitute to driving for short trips, since you can do it in street clothes, and you don’t typically arrive in need of a shower. Further, it requires no skill or practice. Everyone knows how to do it, and the only equipment you need is a good pair of shoes. You can walk outdoors or indoors (in shopping malls, for example). It is the safest exercise option of all, with the least chance of injury.

The key to making walking pay off is to do it briskly. Aerobic walking cannot be casual or intermittent. Keep at it until you can walk about three miles in forty-five minutes and aim for an exertion level that elevates heart rate, but still allows you to speak full sentences. Doing this at least five times a week is one of the best moves you can make for a lifetime of health.

The post What Is Better For Your Body – Walking Or Running? appeared first on DrWeil.com.



* This article was originally published here

Thursday, October 16, 2025

6 Healthy Snack Ideas To Help Tide You Over

Healthy snacking doesn’t mean depriving your taste buds. It does mean fueling your body in a way that sustains you and doesn’t leave you hungry and wanting more. These palate-pleasing snack ideas are healthful and delicious:

  1. Seasonal fruit with organic whole milk plain yogurt and freshly ground flaxseed or nuts.
  2. Whole-grain, high fiber crackers with cheese or smoked salmon. Check the Nutrition Facts label and look for the option with the highest grams on fiber
  3. A small handful of raw or lightly toasted nuts or a spoonful of unsweetened nut or seed butter. When choosing trail mix options, it’s best to avoid options with dried fruits and candies.
  4. Cucumber or carrot slices dipped in hummus.
  5. A hardboiled egg (look for omega-3-enriched eggs for added nutritional value) sprinkled with smoked paprika.
  6. Fresh vegetables with organic plain yogurt – add fresh herbs and seasonings for more flavor.

The post 6 Healthy Snack Ideas To Help Tide You Over appeared first on DrWeil.com.



* This article was originally published here

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Addressing Seasonal Depression

The shorter daylight hours of the autumn and winter seasons can affect sleep, productivity and state of mind. Light therapy (also known as phototherapy) may help. It uses specially designed boxes that emit full-spectrum light to simulate sunlight. While still a relatively unknown treatment, light therapy has been shown to have positive benefits in addressing many health issues, including Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), severe premenstrual syndrome, bulimia, and as a non-drug treatment for depression. Some research suggests that a vitamin D deficiency might underlie SAD symptoms and that supplementing with vitamin D might help. It is estimated that more than 70 percent of the U.S. population is D-deficient.

 

If you have been suffering from SAD or just feel a little blue this time of year, contact your physician or healthcare provider. Depression is a treatable condition; engage in some form of exercise, light therapy may be an option worth trying and be certain to check your 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood level as well during this season to ensure adequate levels.

The post Addressing Seasonal Depression appeared first on DrWeil.com.



* This article was originally published here

Saturday, October 11, 2025

4 Foods To Boost Your Metabolism

As we age, our metabolism slows down, which may lead to weight gain. But small dietary adjustments can help minimize unwanted pounds in our middle years. Try these suggestions:

  1. Choose healthy carbohydrates. Replace refined, high-glycemic index carbs with unrefined, low-glycemic choices such as sprouted grain breads, vegetables or beans and lentils. The latter do not cause the spikes in blood glucose levels that end up encouraging hunger and the storage of fat.
  2. Use spices. Capsaicin (the compound that gives chili peppers their bite), black pepper and ginger all boost the generation of heat in the body, leading to more calories burned.
  3. Drink green tea. The main antioxidant polyphenol in green tea, known as epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, stimulates the body to help burn calories. Dr. Weil recommends drinking a few cups of organic green tea every day. Also realize that quality sleep helps your metabolism too, so if afternoon or evening tea leads to sleep disturbance keep your intake to earlier in the day.
  4. Get hungry. Many people believe that eating five or six small meals daily boosts metabolism, but recent research indicates that’s probably false. To increase fat metabolism, allow yourself to be slightly hungry now and then. The best way may be to eat two or three modest meals daily, with no snacks. Eat until you are satisfied and no longer hungry, not necessarily until you clean your plate.

In addition, regular physical exercise – with some sessions being as intense as your body allows, like interval sprinting in the yard or on a bike – is another way to keep your metabolism functioning properly.

The post 4 Foods To Boost Your Metabolism appeared first on DrWeil.com.



* This article was originally published here

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Inexpensive Ways To Get Your Omega-3s

We all need essential fatty acids, especially the anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, for optimum health. I recommend eating several servings of oily fish, such as wild Alaskan salmon, per week as a dietary strategy to help decrease the risk of heart disease, inflammatory conditions, cancer and other health concerns. However, if you find fresh or frozen wild Alaskan salmon is too expensive, try these more economical choices:

  1. Canned salmon. Sockeye salmon that is canned is always wild-caught, costs less than fresh or frozen salmon, and has the added benefit of the canning process, which softens the bones, making them an edible and incredible source of calcium.
  2. Canned sardines. Another fish-based source of omega-3s, choose sardines packed in water or olive oil.
  3. Walnuts. A good vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids that promotes cardiovascular health and tones down inflammation. Walnuts also contain ellagic acid, an antioxidant compound that helps support a healthy immune system and that may help protect against cancer.
  4. Freshly ground flaxseed contains both omega-3s and soluble fiber. Grind flaxseed daily in a coffee grinder at home (buy one specifically for this purpose) and sprinkle one to two tablespoons a day on salads or cereals or in smoothies.
  5. Chia seeds. An important part of the diet of ancient Aztecs and Mayans, chia seed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, as well as vital minerals including calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. It has as thickening quality that makes it a great add-in or replacement in certain recipes, increasing their health value to you.

You can also consider a high-quality omega-3 supplement. Available in liquid or capsule forms, fish oil helps to maintain a healthy blood pressure, nourish the nervous system and promote optimal mood and outlook. Look for products that are certified by a third party for quality and free of contaminants, and begin with small daily doses, building up to the recommended amount, which is often 1000-2000mg of EPA plus DHA total per day.

The post Inexpensive Ways To Get Your Omega-3s appeared first on DrWeil.com.



* This article was originally published here