Sitting Is the New Smoking

You may have heard the slogan “sitting is the new smoking.”  Sitting in itself is not bad, but if you are sitting for long periods of time day after, problems can start to arise. As a species, humans were not meant to be stationary. Movement promotes blood and lymphatic flow throughout the body, lubrication for our joints, and helps keep our muscles and tendons pliable or stretchy.

The opposite is true when we sit for long periods of time. Muscles and joints become tight and stiff and blood flow is decreased throughout the body.

Basically, the body and brain do not work as well while sitting as it does while in motion.

1.   Standing desk –  This will give you the option to sit or stand, which will help a great deal in the long run. Standing burns more calories and helps improve the ability of the brain to function.

2.   Twenty Minutes – It takes twenty minutes for our tissues and joints to become stiff and tight, so get up and move as much possible. This can be as simple as a walk to the restroom or going to talk to a coworker. Fidgeting is also helpful. While you are sitting, pump your feet up and down, march in place, reach for the sky, or just stand up and sit down quickly

3.   Hydration –  is extremely important when it comes to the health and function of the body. If you do not have enough water in your system, muscles and joints become stiff, like beef jerky, which means they are more prone to damage and injury. A rough estimate is to try to drink a little less than an ounce of water per pound of body weight. If you are an active person, aim for a little more.

4.   Chiropractic – chiropractic adjustments can help maintain proper movement, helping to combat the negative effects of sitting. Your chiropractor can also teach you exercises that can be done at the desk.

These are simple things people can do to help increase structure and function of body. To be clear, people can sit, but when it is done for prolonged periods of time day after day, the body starts to become compromised.