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Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Want lower blood pressure and stronger legs? Japanese walking might be the simple daily fix you need
Could a simple change in your walking style be the key to improved health? A growing number of physicians and researchers believe so. " Japanese walking ," a method developed nearly two decades ago, is now being praised for its numerous benefits, including lower blood pressure , increased muscle strength , and better mental health. What is Japanese Walking? " Interval walking training ," which is currently referred to as "Japanese walking, a straightforward regimen that alternates between slow and fast walking, was created by Japanese researchers almost 20 years ago. How can you practice Japanese Walking? You can practice Japanese walking in this way: by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Walk quickly for three minutes (roughly 70% of your maximum aerobic capacity) followed by walking slowly for three minutes (roughly 40% of your maximum aerobic capacity). For a total of 30 minutes each session, repeat the cycle, as per a report by Very Well Health. Why are three minutes required for the intervals? Researchers used three-minute intervals in the original study because older participants started to feel fatigued after that. Live Events If you couldn't initially handle three-minute intervals, you would probably still see some improvement with shorter ones. Starting with three minutes of regular walking, followed by one minute of brisk walking, and extending the duration of the brisk walking interval as your fitness increases would be entirely reasonable. Who benefits the most from this Japanese walking method? The most suitable individuals for Japanese walking are those who feel bored or stuck with your daily walking schedule. People who are striving to reverse insulin resistance, early metabolic syndrome, or have mild joint issues can benefit from this. This low-impact exercise is ideal for older adults or beginners because it is simple to start, requires no equipment, and may provide long-term cardiovascular and metabolic benefits. Children's National Hospital physical therapist Kevin McGuinness said, "This is a useful strategy for people who can't tolerate activities like running or hiking due to injury, weakness, or balance issues." ALSO READ: Jon Stewart's savage necklace joke goes viral as Karoline Leavitt reportedly ditches the bling in response What are the health benefits of Japanese walking? Anahita Kalianivala, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Reno, Nevada, believes that strategies such as interval walking can be surprisingly effective in re-training the nervous system to tolerate exercise. She explains that a common technique for managing chronic pain in cognitive behavioral therapy is time-based activity pacing, which helps the body and brain associate activity with safety and the ability to continue rather than danger and the need to crash, as quoted in a report. The exercise has been demonstrated to increase VO2max, decrease blood pressure, and aid in blood sugar regulation. Interval walking was found to increase peak aerobic capacity, thigh muscle strength, and blood pressure. Is Japanese walking easier and better than regular walking? • Interval walking is an effective way to improve long-term health, particularly for middle-aged and older adults. • It consists of alternating short periods of brisk walking and slower-paced recovery, which dynamically engages the cardiovascular system. • Interval walking is simple to learn, requires no special equipment or gym access, and causes metabolic changes. Can shorter intervals still help? If you would like to try Japanese walking, you could ease yourself into the routine by beginning with shorter bursts of brisk walking than the three-minute intervals used in it. FAQs Is Japanese walking better than regular walking? Yes, alternating speeds gives your heart and muscles a better workout while reducing strain. Can I practice Japanese walking if I am out of shape? You can begin with shorter intervals and progress gradually.
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Bizarre, new beauty trend turns your skin orange — and could land you in the ER, experts warn
They're dying for that glow — one can of carrots at a time. A new TikTok trend called 'carrotmaxxing' is taking root among beauty-obsessed users looking to score a sun-kissed sheen. But instead of bronzed bliss, some people are turning orange — or worse, landing themselves in the hospital. 'Fake tan has become too expensive. Time to start carrotmaxxing,' one user, @SydneyPacce, declared on X (formerly Twitter) on May 9 alongside a photo of six cans of sliced carrots and a bottle of Dr. Pepper. Nine days — and an apparent veggie binge — later, she posted an alarming update: 'UPDATE: CARROTMAXXING SENT ME TO THE ER.' The beta-carotene-packed trend supposedly delivers a natural tan by turning skin a warmer hue. But if you go too hard on the carrots, you might wind up with carotenemia — a rather harmless condition that literally turns your skin yellow-orange due to 'high levels of beta-carotene in the blood,' according to Very Well Health. 3 Instead of glowing up, some carrotmaxxers are turning traffic-cone orange — or winding up in the ER. TikTok/@notsyrianpsycho Having your skin turn a different color is one thing — but getting sent to the ER for sodium overload from the root vegetable is another. Experts warn that the high levels of sodium in canned carrots — the way many are partaking in this trend — can cause some serious harm. According to Harvard Medical School physicians, who wrote in a recent statement, 'It's also highly likely that some patients are more salt-sensitive than others. Thus, directing salt restriction to those most vulnerable might be better than a one-size-fits-all approach.' That was apparently the case for @SydneyPacce, who consumed six cans of sliced carrots daily — not raw carrots, mind you — amounting to over 5,250 milligrams of sodium a day. 3 For those partaking in this trend by eating canned carrots — experts warn that the sodium in this pantry item could cause some serious harm. TikTok/@kainoalam That's more than double the American Heart Association's recommended limit of 2,300 mg, and way beyond the ideal cap of 1,500 mg. 'I already had heart problems, so all the sodium in the carrots kinda took me out and I went into mild organ failure,' she wrote in a follow-up tweet on May 19. 'I'm doing much better now though!' Carrots themselves aren't the enemy — far from it. Packed with fiber, vitamin K, calcium and vision-boosting antioxidants, they're a powerhouse snack when eaten in moderation. 3 People who want to partake in this trend need to tread lightly. markobe – 'Since they are known for benefiting eye health and vision, carrots are thought to be loaded with vitamin A, but they actually don't have any vitamin A in its active form,' said Rosy Rojas, a dietetic intern at Tufts' Frances Stern Nutrition Center. 'Instead, carrots are filled with carotenoids, mainly beta-carotene, that can be converted to active vitamin A. Our body is able to regulate this conversion, so toxicity is not an issue.' But when paired with sodium-laced canned veggies and a desperate quest for clout, the risks grow, as reported by The Independent. While the glow-up might be the goal, the carrot craze is proving to be less of a bronzed beauty hack — and more of a cautionary tale. Because when it comes to carrotmaxxing, too much of a good thing can leave you cooked.
