Sitting is the new smoking

by | Dec 7, 2014 | Bone Health, Brain Health, Heart Health, Joint Health, Lifestyle & Leisure | 0 comments

Too much sitting is bad for your health. In fact, it’s turning out that prolonged sitting ranks near the top of the list – along with smoking and obesity – of factors contributing to chronic health problems.

When you sit

  • Your muscles aren’t burning as much fat – so fat clogs your arteries and puts a load on your heart.
  • Your blood sugar, LDL cholesterol, and blood pressure rise.
  • Your muscle cells become less sensitive to insulin, and your pancreas responds by producing more of it. This cycle is a precursor to diabetes.
  • Your risk for common cancers (breast and colon) inches up.
  • You lose muscle mass, especially in the gluteals and abdominals, important groups for core postural support.
  • You lose bone mass.
  • You get tight hip flexors and stress your hip joints.
  • There’s excess pressure on the discs of your low back.
  • You’re missing out on the brain stimulation provided by movement activity.
  • You distort the alignment of your upper back and neck, contributing to headache, muscle aches, and eye strain.

smashing television

What to do

  • Blow up your TV. Or at least stand up part of the time while you’re watching. Walk around during commercials.
  • Switch your desk so you can stand (at least part of the workday.) Better yet invest in a treadmill desk.
  • Elongate your hip flexors with a lunging stretch.
Hip Flexor Stretch

Hip Flexor Stretch

• Get a giant gym ball to sit on.

• Take your bike not the car.

_______________________________________

Deepen Your Body of Knowledge

More on sedentary lifestyle effects

Warning: consult a physician before beginning any program of physical inactivity

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share this post with your friends!