According to researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, participating in light-intensity activity can be far better for you than was previously thought possible.
In fact, all it takes to gain health benefits is participating in just 30 minutes of physical activities like walking, housework, and even standing every day.
The study shows these light-intensity movements can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 24 percent.
This comes as great news, especially to people who previously thought that only moderate or vigorous activity that raises heart rate provides health benefits.
The researchers spent the study relying on motion trackers rather than patient testimony to record their activity levels. This is significant, as it prevents recording errors. After all, it’s easy for subjects to forget exactly how long they were sitting, standing, etc.
These results show that just a little bit of activity – which can be nearly anything but sitting still – can have significant benefits on the body.
However, that’s not all you can do. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, people can achieve substantial health benefits by participating in one of the following:
- 2 hours and 30 minutes per week of brisk walking, tennis, or other exercise with moderate intensity
- 1 hour and 15 minutes per week of jogging, swimming laps, or other vigorous-intensity exercise
- A time-equivalent combination of both moderate and vigorous intensity exercises
