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

- Anna-Kaisa Walker

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 still carry on a conversation-the minimum intensity the UK's National Health Service recommends adults get for 2.5 hours a week.

Walking your pooch for that amount of time could even prolong your life. Getting 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week reduces your risk of heart disease by up to 15 per cent, cuts your chances of developing breast, stomach, kidney and other cancers by up to 20 per cent, and helps prevent and manage type 2 diabetes.

And, as a bonus, more exercise during the day also seems to set the stage for better nights. According to a survey of 6,500 retired civil servants conducted a decade ago, dog owners were more likely to report having an easier time falling asleep at night than those who didn't own dogs.

2. They Boost Your Immune System

According to the so-called hygiene hypothesis, proposed in the late 1980s, growing up indoors in disinfected spaces later causes our bodies to overreact to harmless substances, making us more prone to allergies and asthma. Dogs and cats, with their dirty paws, copious dander and love for licking us, introduce more microbial diversity that habituates our immune systems.