Walk outside when you can

Walking doesn't get much attention in longevity medicine, probably because there's nothing to sell. The research behind it is strong, and for a lot of people it's the base everything else sits on. If you're able to, walking outside beats the treadmill. Time in nature has its own benefits, lower stress and better mood, and in one large study people who spent about two hours a week in nature reported better health and wellbeing than those who spent none. You also get sunlight, fresh air and uneven ground, none of which a treadmill can give you. It's also time with people. Some of my favorite walks are with my kids, playing catch with a tennis ball along the way or stopping for some target practice. Those walks don't feel like exercise, which is probably why we keep doing them. I sometimes wonder which is better, a workout in the gym or a walk outside. I think the answer is both. The gym builds strength and pushes the heart in ways walking can't, and being outside gives you things a gym can't.