Healthy BALANCE
Words Laura Potter. Photograph iStock
Think keeping your heart healthy requires hours of gruelling cardio? Doubtless it helps, but new Swedish research has found that even low-intensity physical activity – as low level as standing – if done daily, can reduce your risk of fatal cardiovascular disease by almost a quarter. Researchers had 1200 people wear motion trackers for 15 years to see how movement affected mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease. Replacing half an hour’s sitting with a low-level activity like standing, walking or doing chores cut risk by 24 per cent, 10 minutes of moderate-to-intense activity slashed risk by 38 per cent, while 30 minutes a day cut risk by 77 per cent. Sorry, Netflix.