The Surprising Benefits of Pets
Whether they’re furry, feathered or scaly, the non-human members of your family help you in more ways than you know—especially when it comes to your health
1. They Keep You Active
If you have a dog, chances are you’re walking it at least 30 minutes a day, and likely more—an activity that goes a long way towards keeping you fit.
In fact, a 2017 British study published in the journal BMC Public Health found that, on average, walking a dog added an extra 2,700 steps to a person’s daily total, about 20 more minutes of physical activity per day than people who don’t own dogs. What’s more, most of that walking was done at a ‘moderate cadence’—enough to get your heart pumping but Jstill carry on a conversation—the mini-mum intensity the UK’s National Health Service recommends adults get for 2.5 hours a week.
Continue reading at Reader’s Digest
Photo Credit: Jaime Hogg
