Is Sitting the New Smoking?
Sitting is something we do A LOT! By some estimates we sit up to 10 hours a day. All of this sitting has impacted our health. In fact, some folks say sitting is the new smoking.
I have explored the negative health effects of too much sitting. For some of us, a standing work station is unrealistic or the nature of our job requires a seated position. There's good news for all of us obligatory sitters! A mere 5 min walking break every 30 mins can offset the negative health impacts of prolonged sitting. Researcher Keith Diaz of Columbia University Medical Center and his colleagues, "found that a five minute walk every half-hour was able to offset a lot of the harms of sitting." People who moved five minutes every half-hour, saw blood sugar spikes after a meal reduced by almost 60%, according to his study. Another researcher, Kathleen Janz, professor emeritus at the University of Iowa, says that "people were in a better mood because they took those breaks." WHAT'S THAT!?! Short 5 min walking breaks can improve our blood sugar, improve our metabolic profile AND improve our mental health? Sign me up! Many of us get our CDC recommended weekly 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity via CrossFit classes. However, we may find ourselves sitting the rest of the day. No matter what we do for an hour in the gym, it's the remaining 23 hours of our day that can cause so many other issues. If sitting is something you find yourself doing for more than 30 mins, get up and move for just 5 mins. You'll feel better AND you'll be happier:) Win! Win! Click on the link below to listen to the entire 4:24 min story on NPR. You can do this during one of your 5 min walking breaks today!
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