The Surprising Health Benefits of Shopping
Some of the best times of the week that you may look forward to are the weekends. That is because these are the days when you go to the farmers’ markets, boutiques, and other establishments to shop for items. But aside from the satisfaction of getting the things you need or want, shopping is actually good for your health.
Recent studies show that walking from one shop to another and carrying heavy bags give the heart and body a good workout. In fact, if you are an average person, you can lose up to 400 calories a day by just doing that. If this activity is done regularly, you will find out that you have walked over 150 miles per year—the distance from London to Hull—looking for great deals and bargains! Now that is great exercise, is it not?
Also, researchers found out that when you enjoy going around to look for best offers, there is an increased activity in the pre-frontal cortex of your brain, the part that is associated with pleasure and positive thinking. The increased level of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is released during pleasurable experiences in your brain’s reward centre, will make you feel extremely happy and contented.
Finally, another great advantage of shopping is that it can help you keep your acuity even in old age. This is because when you shop, you tend to be more physically active (by walking around), mentally engaged (through carefully budgeting the items you buy), and socially involved (from meeting new and old friends while in the department store). Thus, if you want to exercise and enjoy the workout at the same time, drive or walk to the nearest shopping centre.