How Bad Is It To…
BY BETHANY HEITMAN
Sure, you’d love to make the healthiest possible choices all of the time. Unfortunately, life gets busy and sometimes those r choices may not be ideal. . But how do you know what shortcuts you can make—and which you actually need to worry about. It can be tricky, really—especially if you rely on Dr. Google to answer your biggest questions. There is just so much conflicting information out there.
We’re here to help! Below, some common health questions that JW gets asked all of the time—along with the truth of how bad these things really are for you.
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya
Is it really that terrible to sit all day long?
We won’t sugar coat it: Sitting all day is pretty darn bad for you. Research shows that sitting for long stretches of time can lead to obesity, high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol. It’s also been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
But what constitutes sitting too much? Generally, sitting for an accumulation of 8 hours a day is thought to be way too long. Oh, and it doesn’t matter if you’re super active when you’re not sitting. If those sitting hours add up, you’re still at risk for all of the things above.
Need some tips to break up all that time on your butt? Check these tips out:
Set your iPhone alarm to remind you to get up and move a little every 30 minutes during the workday.
Rather than sitting for a phone call, try walking around the room.
If you live or work in a place with stairs, use them! FIve minutes going up and down an average flight of stairs gets your heart rate up and engages your glutes and quads.
Consider a standing desk, or moving your laptop to a higher counter to work for partof the day.
I drink diet soda daily—usually a few cans. It can’t be that bad for you, right?
It depends on how you define bad. Chances are, your diet soda habit won’t lead to diabetes or cancer. But there is some research that connects drinking several diet sodas a day to weaker bones. And there is a good chance it could lead to weight gain. One study done on rodents found that sugar substitutes (like the artificial sweeteners used in diet soda) interferes with the body’s natural ability to clock how many calories it is taking in, which can then lead to overeating.
Water is a far better choice. In fact, people who drink lots of water each day are less likely to be overweight—and if you’re drinking a lot of water, you’re probably not drinking a lot of soda anyway! Craving something fizzy? A zero-calorie flavored seltzer is a far better option for your day-to-day consumption. And, remember, moderation is key. If you are really craving a diet soda, try to save the indulgence as an every-once-in-a-while treat.
Tell me the truth: Is it okay to take melatonin each night to get to sleep?
Taking a melatonin supplement to snooze better is okay—for short periods of time. Melatonin is actually a natural hormone your body produces and it plays a key role in your sleep-wake cycle. It’s released when it gets dark out and diminishes as the sun comes up.
When taken in supplement form, melatonin can increase your sleepiness and help you drift off to dreamland. This can be particularly helpful if you are dealing with jet lag or are just off your normal schedule. But you really don’t want to take it for more than a week or so. First, there’s no research on how long-term melatonin usage can affect you. Though, some suspect that taking melatonin supplements for long stretches of time can mess with your natural levels. Plus, if you have deeper rooted sleep issues, since taking sleep aids of any kind can also prevent you from dealing with the root cause of your sleeplessness. For example, if you have a sleep disorder or insomnia, you'll be better off addressing the issue rather than covering it up with melatonin.
By Bethany Heitman, Contributor
P.S. Remember that no matter what you're going through right now, you don't have to do it alone! There are others like you in our community, where we interact on a daily basis, fight our demons, share our victories, and watch over each other as friends and accountability partners.
Together we are FÖRENA - a health & fitness community for women like you where we focus not only on our physical health but also mind, soul, relationships, and overall well-being. Become one of us now with FREE 1-month membership, and let us witness your growth! 🌱
Pin it for later
