I just came across this piece in a book written by health & wellness expert Dr. James Chestnut and thought I would share.  This is incredible stuff considering most of these benefits are based on a 30 minute brisk walk and the research shows that the benefits of exercise are dose responsive meaning that the more you do the better.  Check it out and let me know what you think?

Documented Benefits of Walking:

• Prevent up to 91 percent of cases of obesity and type 2 diabetes
• Prevent up to 50 percent of all cases of heart disease
• Reduce risk of stroke by 25-30 percent
• Prevent up to 50 percent of all stroke deaths
• Reduce congestive heart disease deaths by 63 percent
• Reduce hospital readmission for heart failure patients by 70 percent
• Normalize blood pressure and reduce risk of developing high blood pressure
• Restore or maintain heart and blood vessel health
• Restore and maintain normal cholesterol triglyceride levels
• Reduce risk of breast cancer up to 60 percent
• Reduce pancreatic cancer in overweight people by 50 percent
• Reduce lung cancer, even in smokers by 72 percent
• Prevent up to 50 percent of colon cancer
• Reduce risk of developing, and improve outcomes of these with, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
• Prevent osteoporosis and increase new bone formation
• Increase strength, flexibility and balance
• Decrease gallbladder removal by 20 percent and decrease gallstones
• Improve digestion and decrease indigestion
• Improve bowel function and elimination
• Increase immune system function
• Increase macrophage (anti-tumor) activity and antioxidant levels
• Decrease all-causes of mortality by 67 percent in general population    
• Prevent up to 47 percent of cognitive impairment, prevent u pot 62 percent of Alzheimer's and 52 percent of dementia
• Improve physical function in older adults
• Decrease chance of ever being in a nursing home
• Decrease rate of aging 
• Enhance learning by 12 times
• Increase dopamine and serotonin levels 
• Decrease depression by 20 percent, including relapse
• Increased growth and healing hormones 
• Decrease stress and body breakdown hormones
• Decrease body fat, obesity, and weight gain

10 Reasons to Eat Organically—and Locally

1. Local foods are safer.

2. Organic foods are safer.

3. Organic food tastes better.

4. Organic food is more nutritious

5. You won't have to eat genetically modified organisms (GMO)

6. Your drinking water will be safer.

7. Your kids will be healthier.

8. To help farmers and farm communities

9. For more humane treatment of animals.

10. To promote a vibrant economy.