Science tells us that too much sitting can increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, lung disease, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. A 2017 study looked at 1,500 older women to compare sedentary subjects with active peers. They found that the inactive group had cells that were eight years older than the more active women. Since a more active body means a more active brain, sedentary seniors’ risk lower cognitive function, too. Sitting too much can hurt you even if you exercise regularly. So, break up an hour of sitting with just two minutes of standing or moving around your space. Set an alarm as a reminder!

The brain controls mood, hormones, memory, executive functions like decision making and planning, personality, movement, mood, concentration, sleep and more. Supporting brain health is essential to successful functioning and quality of life at any age. Light emitting diodes (Red and Near-Infrared LEDs) safely penetrate the skull, which increases circulation in cortical tissues, shows significant improvements in depression and anxiety scores, and in cognitive measures of study participants with TBI. Many research studies show that there are clear indications for the use of these LED’s for neurological conditions including stroke, traumatic brain injury, degenerative brain disease, spinal cord injury, and peripheral nerve regeneration.

Make it part of your daily routine, no matter how out of shape you are! The key is to start with something manageable and that you like (or at least don’t hate), and it does not necessarily mean jumping into CrossFit or HIIT right away. I suggest getting up 10 minute earlier in the morning to do some gentle yoga or stretching with some breathing to help set the intention for the day. Taking a walk or bike ride after supper is great not only for movement, to get some of that natural vitamin D, as well as also blunting the blood sugar spike after eating. So start slow and get moving!