It’s official: doing household chores gives you much more than just a gold star on the chart of adulting. Turns out it could actually be keeping you healthy.
A new study published in The Lancet medical journal has found that 30 minutes of exercise a day can reduce the risk of early death by 29 percent and heart disease by a fifth.
But no need to stress if you can’t find the time to slog it out on the treadmill.
According to researchers, any form of physical activity – be it gardening, dancing or vacuuming – works just as well. In fact, Daily Mail estimates that simply raking leaves or scrubbing the bath could burn up to 200 calories.
The study analysed 130,000 people in 17 countries and found that being active for half an hour everyday extended their lifespan and significantly reduced the rate of illness.
Interestingly, less than three percent of participants achieved their daily dose of exercise through traditional means of working out, such as running, swimming or pumping weights.
“Going to the gym is great, but we only have so much time we can spend there,” lead author, Scott Lear explains.
“If we can walk to work, or at lunchtime, that will help too.”
Source: Read Full Article