We all know that sitting too much is bad for our health, but it's not just the time we spend sitting down that counts; it's also what we do while we're sitting.
The researchers found that those who sat for more than 11 hours a day had a 40% increased risk of premature death than those who sat for four hours or less per day. The risk was even greater for people who spent most of their workdays sitting — regardless of how much physical activity they did outside the office.
How can a sedentary lifestyle affect your body?
Your metabolism slows down while you're sitting, which means it takes more energy to get moving again once you've been inactive for a while. This can make it harder to lose weight or keep it off because the more you sit, the less likely you are to burn calories through exercise or general movements throughout the day. The result? You might gain weight even if you eat healthier foods and watch what you eat because physical activity has been removed from your routine.
Simple Ways To Keep You Healthy.
The good news is that you can drastically improve your health by simply standing up more often throughout the day.
Here's how?
- Stand up at least every 30 minutes and walk around for five minutes. This helps keep your blood flowing, so it doesn't pool in your lower extremities. It also helps you avoid blood clots and varicose veins.
- Get an adjustable-height desk to stand while working instead of sitting all day long. This will help keep your circulation flowing smoothly and prevent blood clots from forming in your legs while working at a desk job!
- Park further away from where you're going so that you have to walk more instead of driving close by in parking garages near stores or restaurants where there tend to be few or no parking spots.
- If you work from home, go for a walk around the block every hour. Use a standing desk or treadmill desk.
- Take the stairs. If your house has more than one floor, try to take the stairs rather than the elevator or escalator. Or at least make an effort to climb those stairs at least once during the day, even if it's to get a glass of water from the kitchen.
- Get off the couch. When you sit down, stand up and walk around every half hour or so. You can also take breaks from watching TV by doing a few quick exercises like squats or push-ups while the commercial plays on screen.
Wrapping-up
You may think that as long as you're getting regular exercise, sitting all day won't hurt. But a growing body of evidence suggests that even if you're fit, sitting too much can be bad for your health.
The problem isn't just that we're sitting around — it's also what we're doing while we sit around. When you're inactive for long periods, your muscles get stiff and sore from lack of use; this reduces their ability to respond quickly when called upon to do something more strenuous than just sitting around.
Hope our tips help you understand better.
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