I recently read a health article that said you’ll burn up to 80% more calories per mile by walking on the beach vs. the sidewalk.  Since I walk every day as part of my exercise program, I thought that I would do some research and here’s what I found:

Health and Beauty Tip #1 – Walking on uneven surfaces makes your leg and butt muscles work harder.

Health and Beauty Tip #2 – Walking on the beach may also improve your balance, thereby decreasing the chance of injury.

Health and Beauty Tip #3 – Besides offering beautiful scenery, you can walk for miles without obstacles.

Health and Beauty Tip #4 – Be sure to walk along the shoreline where the sand is firm and wet. Your feet will sink down some, but not enough to stress out your joints, but just enough to make your workout more strenuous.

While all this sounds great, there are some pitfalls to consider:

• Sand reflects sunlight and absorbs heat, so don’t forget your sunscreen.
• The water tends to draw more bugs, so look for a sunscreen that also has bug repellent in it.
• You should wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your face from UV rays, which helps to reduce your risk of skin cancer, wrinkling, and we all know that sun destroys collagen.
• Avoid walking between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun is its hottest.
• Consider wearing a pair of aqua shoes – you can find ones made special for walking on wet surfaces.
• Bring water with you as you will dehydrate much more quickly than usual.

So, my conclusion is that I’m not so sure that the benefits outweigh the pitfalls.  What do you think?