Sitting Your Life Away
A few hours of sitting can be more dangerous to your health than previously thought. Multiple studies, including those published by The British Journal of Sports Medicine and the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise Journal (described on Natural Health Care), reiterate how detrimental a sedentary lifestyle can be. After just four hours of sitting, genes that regulate the amount of glucose and fat in the body start to shut down. And although many of us may hit the gym after a day at the office, exercise after the fact may not reverse the effects.
So what does this all mean? By sitting for long, uninterrupted periods of time, we increase the risk of premature death due to cardiovascular disease and general mortality rate by 1.54%.
To make sure we do not succumb to the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle, we’ve got to get moving throughout the day. Take regular walking breaks (at least every couple of hours), so that you body will be able to normalize hormonal levels and increase its ability to process fats and sugars.
Other ways to stay active throughout the day include taking walks during your lunch break, getting up and walking over to a coworkers desk instead of calling or emailing them, and of course, taking the stairs (both ways!) when going to and from work and even when you head downstairs to grab a coffee.
