When teen idol Chris Hemsworth played a computer hacker in this year's "Blackhat," moviegoers wondered how someone who spends his life sitting in front of a computer screen could look so over-the-top athletic. Wanna know a secret? He can't!
The average North American adult (70 percent are overweight) sits for five to eight and a half hours a day in front of a TV, computer, smartphone, gaming consul, tablet, etc. Clearly, there's not a lot of time left for moving around! But screen-gazing (or grazing) is so integrated into every minute of the day that you probably don't realize how much time you spend sitting and staring.
Well, here's some big-time incentive to get aware, get up and get going!
A new study tracked 3,200 people for 25 years and found that watching four or more hours of TV a day damages the brain early in middle age and increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's later on. We bet all screens contribute!
So what's your best brain-loving plan?
-Set a reminder alarm so you walk around every 30-60 minutes.
-Get a standing desk, or a treadmill desk like Dr. Mike's.
-Use a pedometer or smartphone to count your daily steps - you want 10,000, no excuses.
-Get at least 30 extra minutes of extra physical activity five days a week (three days cardio, two days resistance exercise).
-Put down your phone; turn off the computer. Talk to your friends and family face-to-face. The study also found that isolation (and, boy, does screen time fuel that) increases cognitive decline.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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