Saturday, January 29, 2011

Cardiovascular Disease and Sitting

I is now well known that sitting too much can lead to cardiovascular disease or clogged arteries.

According to a study published in the European Heart Journal titled "Sedentary Time and Cardio-metabolic biomarkers in US Adults", prolonged periods of just sitting and being inactive results in
  • Larger waist sizes
  • Lower levels of HDL or good cholesterol
  • Higher levels of C-reactive protein, which is a marker of inflammation
  • And higher levels of triglycerides

However, there is good news for some couch potatoes.

The study also determined that even for people who spent a lot of time sitting, the more times they stood for a few minutes during their sedentary time, the smaller their waste size and the lower levels of C-reactive protein.

So taking many momentary breaks from sitting can improve your health. Some suggestions for the sedentary office based workplace include

  • Climb stairs as often as possible
  • Walk to talk to a colleague rather than using the phone
  • Stand to answer the phone
  • And go to the bathroom on a different floor than your office

So try limiting your sitting time in addition to a good exercise routine. Combining both will decrease your risks of developing cardiovascular disease.

For additional tips on diet and exercise, visit burn-tummy-fat.com.

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