Spotlight on sitting (and the case of a shrewd little enzyme)
Whereas once work was synonymous with physical exertion, nowadays much work involves manoeuvering ourselves from one seat to another, in other words from one sitting position to another. And just in case you haven't heard, sitting is getting a bad press of late.
once work was synonymous with physical exertion, nowadays much work involves manoeuvering ourselves from one sitting postion to another
But lets stick to chronology!
As in Mind Moving, you are watching a speeded up film of yourself through your day, tracing the movements and positions that are the personal choreography of your everyday life.
You have watched keenly as you move through your early morning routine.
Leaving Home
You put on your jacket, threading and stretching your arms into sleeves.
You close the door behind you
Do you skip down the stairs or take the lift?
Getting to work
How much movement is involved in getting to work? Do you
Cycle?
Walk?
Use public transport? Taking public transport provides you with the opportunity to walk on either end of your journey.
Drive a car? Often the aspiration of the motorist is to be as door-to-door as possible? This will be the first episode of sitting in your day. How is your movement and your posture when you get out of your car?
Working
Does your work involve moving? How much?
Do you sit to work?
How long do you sit for at a stretch?
At what intervals do you get up to stand or move about?
How does your sitting position change? Do you find yourself slumping or sagging with time?
Unlike the early morning routine, the work day part of the day tends to be more static.
How much of your day are you in a sedentary position?
What is the moving-static ratio of your day? 50:50? 30:70? 10:90?
The case of the enzyme
New research based on the concept of NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) pioneered by endocrinolist Dr. James Levine, reveals that sitting is a dangerous activity, harmful to our health and predisposing sitters to that famous family of chronic diseases: Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes 2 and breast, intestinal and prostate cancers. The research shows that sitting puts you in at high risk, regardless of whether you participate in sport or fitness activities in your spare time.
sitting puts you at a higher risk, regardless of whether you participate in sport or fitness activities in your spare time.
Evidence shows that the enzyme lipo-protein lipase, which breaks down fats [triglycerides] in the blood becomes much more active when we move and becomes sluggish and inefficient when we sit, allowing fats to build up on blood vessel walls.
The case of the hormone
Similarly prolonged sitting also makes the body more resistant to the hormone insulin, which also means higher glucose levels in the blood and predisposes to hyperglycaemia and eventually diabetes 2.
The good, and important, news is that we only need move moderately in order to activate this essential enzyme; for example walking, climbing stairs, sweeping or cleaning.
The clear message is, move more! and get enzymes and hormones working for you.
Where in your day can you find extra opportunities to move?
