Exercise snacks

Nice News -  A new study found that “exercise snacks” — and in this case we’re talking about short spurts of physical activity, not nutrition bars — can deliver big portions of health benefits.
​
Researchers analyzed data from more than 400 previously inactive participants aged 18 to 80, most of them women. They performed short, intentional bursts of activity at least twice a day for several weeks, like climbing stairs, walking, doing tai chi, or lifting small weights.
​
They found these “snacks” significantly boosted cardiorespiratory fitness in adults younger than 65, while older adults saw notable improvements in muscular endurance. Adherence to the routine was also strikingly high, with 91% of younger adults and 83% of older adults consistently completing their daily sessions.
​
The approachable alternative to long workouts that are often all too hard to fit into a busy schedule, these bouts of exercise are ones you can do in a pinch and still reap benefits from. But ideally, they pave the way for extended sessions, Dr. Tamanna Singh, director of the Sports Cardiology Center at Cleveland Clinic, told NBC News.
​
“The main takeaway here is that anything is better than nothing, but that does not mean you should just get three minutes of exercise,” said Singh, who was not involved in the study. “Use that as a base, hopefully these exercise snacks will make people want to have an exercise meal.” Read our list of snackable exercises you can do in just a few minutes.