Must Eat Foods If You Lead A Sedentary Life

Sedentary Life means spending a lot of time being inactive. Today most of our work life requires us to sit for a long period of time. But leading an inactive life is very harmful. It could lead to obesity, heart diseases, high blood pressure and even premature death. We can’t evade a sedentary lifestyle but we can surely adopt certain habits that can help us reduce its side effects. Here’s a list of foods that you must eat if you lead a sedentary life.

1. Berries

Add natural antioxidants such as blueberries, strawberries, etc. to your diet to keep your cholesterol levels normal, to lose weight and to fight cancer. Blueberries are extremely rich in phenols, specifically gallic acid, which help in improving the brain functions by reducing the symptoms of brain fog – forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, etc. High in fibre, low in calories and a low glycemic index makes them an ideal food to fight obesity – a common ill effect of a sedentary life.

2. Dark Chocolate

Apart from being a tasteful delight, here’s another reason why you can indulge in dark chocolate without feeling guilty. It is good for your heart as it helps reduce the plaque buildup inside the arteries and also restores their flexibility. Too much of screen time can slow down your cognitive functions, this is where dark chocolate comes to your rescue. It improves the blood flow to essential parts of the brain and hence improves your attention span and memory.

3. Green Tea

Work stress can cause a lot of health problems. Drink 3 to 5 cups of green tea a day to de-stress yourself and to boost your immunity. It helps in blood circulation and being super rich in antioxidants it helps in keeping a tab on your weight too.

4. Oats

Oats is a fiber rich food. Eating a bowl a day can reduce the risk of heart diseases to a great extent. Sitting continuously for prolonged hours can trigger your cholesterol that is why taking care of your heart becomes even more necessary. Dr. Neeraj Miglani, a Family Physician at Bangalore (HSR layout) says, “Oats are an amazing source of beta-glucan – a fibre which plays an active role in reducing obesity, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.”

5. Citrus Fruits

Being physically inactive and too much consumption of coffee or caffeine can ultimately make you lethargic and tired. Increase your intake of Vitamin C with citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, grapes, etc. in order to boost your energy levels and stamina in a healthy and nutritious way. These fruits too have a low glyemic index which means that the glucose in them is released into your bloodstream slowly, leading you to feel energetic in a steady manner without the side-effect of a crash later on.

These are some of the foods and nutritional needs that can help you stay healthy with a sedentary lifestyle. Apart from choosing foods that are low in calories and high in fibre, having 5 small portion meals a day instead of 3 large portion ones can be more beneficial. It increases your metabolism and keeps your sugar levels even. So don’t forget to incorporate these diet changes to stay fit as you sit.

Source: ApolloClinic