regular movement can help you live long

Age is just a number. We’ve all met older people who are full of energy and vigor despite their age. How do they manage to do that? Most likely, the secret to that is they’ve been physically active throughout their lives.

Regular movement plays a key role in living a long, happy and healthy life. As popularized in the media and pop culture, it doesn’t have to be too intense such as hitting the gym or playing a tough sport every day. It can be simple forms of exercise such as walking, doing yoga, or finishing household chores. A great example of this are the residents of Okinawa, an island south of mainland Japan that is home to the highest concentration of centenarians in the world. If you observe them, you’ll quickly realize that they prioritize simple, consistent movement over sports and fitness. Physical activity is an integral part of their daily routine. For instance, most Okinawans are avid walkers and gardeners, and even enjoy getting on stage and dancing at karaoke bars. They believe in the “slow and steady approach”; the foundation of their activity isn’t its intensity, but intentionality along with the fact that it never ends. 

So, if you want to live a long and healthy life, it’s wise to engage movement, even in simple doses, on a consistent basis.

Sedentary lifestyle can have a detrimental impact on your well-being. Health expert Gavin Bradley reports that sitting for long periods of time negatively impacts your health. He found that just sitting for half an hour can slow down your metabolism and interfere with the healthy digestion of fat. Moreover, sitting for over two hours causes a drop in the levels of good cholesterol. 

It has also been shown that sitting or lying down for too long skyrockets your risk of chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. In addition, too much sitting can also disrupt your mental health. On the other hand, when you are physically active, your heart and cardiovascular system work more effectively, your overall endurance and energy levels improve, and your bones retain their strength.   

That’s why, getting up for only five minutes every half an hour and doing a simple physical activity is a great way to neutralize the above-mentioned negative effects.

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