It’s time to get up and get moving, according to a new study on heart health.
Research has shown that adults who spend less time sitting throughout the day have a lower risk of early death from cardiovascular disease.
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Current government guidelines recommend 30 minutes or more of moderate intensity exercise at least five days every week. This activity can be in one long block or broken up into multiple shorter amounts, such as three 10 minute bursts of activity.
However, even for people who are physically active and exercise regularly, a large part of the day can still be spent seated, such as when travelling, watching TV or working at a desk.
The research suggests that no matter how much time is spent seated, regular breaks from sitting — even doing simple things like regularly standing up — may help reduce risk factors for heart disease.
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Look for ways to break up the time you spend seated during the day, such as standing up during ad breaks while watching TV, getting up to talk to a work colleague rather than sending an email or standing up for all or part of your train journey — your heart will thank you for it.
This information is provided by the Sanitarium Nutrition Service.
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