#healthyhabits Archives

Take a Break

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Joann Ariola

Studies have shown that taking regular breaks during the work day can improve productivity and mental acuity, reduce fatigue, relieve joint or muscle pain, and increase overall alertness.

Chronic stress from over working can put a strain on your body and put you at risk for poor health. Taking a break can give your body the chance to turn off the stress so that you can recuperate and repair.

Research has shown that people on a break feel healthier, have less physical complaints and could have a reduction in cholesterol levels on their return.

Some other benefits of taking a break or vacation are:

Vitamin D – The Sun is rich in Vitamin D which is essential for maintaining healthy bones and keeping the immune systems and nervous system functioning normally.

Relaxing – Taking time to relax on a break from working has powerful benefits for adults. It can be as important as sleep.

Break time shrinks stress – Time away from work helps shrink stress and anxiety while boosting mental and physical health.

Keep in mind that regularly scheduled breaks should be approved by your supervisor.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Do Fitness Trackers Really Work?

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Fitness trackers are more popular than ever. With a variety of wristbands and clip-on sensors you can measure your steps throughout the day, like a high-tech pedometer, and input your exercise program information and synch your progress on your smartphone or computer. These gadgets allow you to set personal fitness and health goals by tracking health behaviors such as how many calories you consume or burn, how many miles you’ve walked or run, and even telling you how well and long you’ve slept. You can even set an alarm that will buzz or beep if you’ve been idle too long to remind you to get up and move. The fancier models can also tabulate other metrics, including heart rate, blood oxygen level, skin temperature, perspiration, body weight and body mass.

But how effective are they at tracking exercise? Most studies agree that if you wore all of the most popular trackers at once, you’d get different results from each one.

Fitness trackers are most effective as a motivational tool. They help to increase physical activity among wearers, and studies have shown that they are associated with significant decreases in BMI and blood pressure, as well as a consistent pattern of weight loss. Even a simple, low-cost, digital pedometer seems to be effective at just getting people to move, regardless of calories burned or other personal health measurements.

So while some trackers are more accurate than others, the point is to keep us aware of what we do or don’t do during the course of a day. If it helps you stay motivated toward healthy behaviors, that’s never a bad thing.

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The Benefits of Walking for 20 Minutes A Day

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Recent studies show that taking a brisk 20 minute walk each day could lead to considerable health benefits. Researchers have found that even a modest amount of exercise can help counter the effects of a sedentary lifestyle as long as it’s performed regularly. A daily 20-minute walk will burn between 90 and 110 calories and cause immediate changes in muscle tissue DNA.

The benefits of daily, low intensity exercise can:

. Help lower blood pressure and the risk of diabetes, cancer, and other chronic diseases.

. Relieve the symptoms of arthritis.

. Help reduce the chance of premature death by between 16 and 30 percent.

. Reduce the risk of osteoporosis and loss of bone density.

. Strengthen and help keep muscles healthy.

. Boost your mood by raising endorphin levels and relieving stress.

Try taking a walk at lunch time or after dinner, or get off the bus or subway a stop before your usual one. Walking is cheap, easy on the joints, and a great way to burn off a few calories after sitting at a desk all day.