You’ve probably heard that having a sedentary lifestyle isn’t all that great for the body. Unfortunately, many of us spend most of the day sitting, but there’s a lot we can do to counteract the negative effects of prolonged sitting. Dr. Edward R. Laskowski, a sports medicine expert, says that just taking a break from sitting every half hour will do a lot to help with overall health and one study finds an hour to 75 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise - like walking - can help the body bounce back from all the sitting.
The body also lets us know when we’ve been too sedentary and these are some of the signs to watch out for:
- You’re spacing out more- A new study finds too much sitting can hurt your attention span and make you more easily distracted.
- You’re feeling more depressed- A sedentary lifestyle doesn’t just take a toll on physical health, mental health may take a hit as well and recent research reveals it could spiral into depression.
- You’re slouching- Exercise physiologist Tom Holland says, “We were meant to move, and move frequently.” When we don’t, he says the physical signs include rounded shoulders, lower back pain and neck pain.
- Your sleep is terrible- According to a study of middle-aged adults, sitting too much every day is linked to “sleep-problem indicators” including snoring, breathing stops and insufficient and restless sleep.
- Your digestive system is hurting- Sitting down compresses your stomach and abdomen, and too much of it can lead to slower digestion and issues from constipation to bloating.
Source:Eat This, Not That
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