Besides poor health, sitting also causes cankles! When you sit, blood is unable to effectively pump from the legs back to the heart, creating high pressure in the veins in the lower legs and feet. This pressure may leak into tissues and cause inflammation. Extended sitting can cause the problem to escalate, with hardened skin, leg ulcers and brown stains on the lower extremities. What’s worse, the decreased circulation in the legs can raise the risk of blood clots.

Raised blood sugar is another negative health effects of sitting too long. Insulin resistance is a step before type 2 diabetes. Insulin helps regulate glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream, and the muscles in turn store the sugar. When the muscles aren’t moving, they become less skilful at absorbing glucose from the bloodstream and actually become insulin-resistant.

This resistance can happen after just one day of prolonged sitting, according to a study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. But making small, consistent movements like sitting and standing throughout the day can help lessen the risk.

You may not be aware, but immobility has the potential to cause constipation—yikes! As you sit, the body has fewer contractions that push along the contents of the gut, which causes the bowel to become dry. Low impact exercise is a sure cure for lowering this risk, like taking the stairs or walking around the block during lunch.

A sedentary lifestyle also causes heartburn. Not moving after lunch causes the stomach to empty slower and produce more acid to aid in digestion. The acidity leads to a burning sensation in your chest and mouth, so don’t forget to stand and move after a meal.

Migraines and decreased cognitive function are other negative effects of prolonged sitting. Hunching at your desk causes the neck to strain backwards as you stare at the computer screen. This in turn affects the nerves in the neck, which can result in a severe headache. Moving muscles encourage good blood flow throughout the body and to the brain. So if you’re moving regularly, you’re getting enough blood and oxygen to the brain, to boost overall brain function.

This last fact is surprising, but a sedentary lifestyle causes joint and muscle pain. Prolonged sitting leads to obesity and a large body mass creates pressure on the joints, and weak muscles from lack of use. Some studies claim that muscle weakness leads to osteoarthritis in the knees, since the knee wasn’t meant to be bent in a sitting angle all day.

See the full article, here.

The post The Daily Mail’s Negative Health Effects of Sitting appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Try to resist the sugary doughnuts your coworker brought that day, and even that warm, delicious slice of coffee cake from the bakery nearby. Sugary, salty snacks may seem like a quick fix to give you that extra boost of energy, but once the sugar wears off you’ll start to crash.

We’ve put together a list of quick, healthy snacks you can eat sitting behind your standing desk. And once you’re finished, stand up and feel the energy flowing and a boost in concentration. Your mind and body will thank you for it.

1. Edamame
This healthy snack is super easy for the person who needs to grab and go in the morning. Edamame is full of protein and fiber, two elements your body needs on a daily basis. You can buy the frozen version and keep them in your office freezer, but fresh produce is often the best. So buy a bag and throw it in the office fridge Monday morning. Warm them in the microwave and you’re all set!

2. Hard Boiled Egg
Eating eggs doesn’t have to be reserved for breakfast. Boil a few eggs Sunday night and you’ll have a healthy snack every day of the week. One hardboiled egg contains about 70 calories with five to six grams of protein. They’re easy to crack and peel while working at your standing desk.

3. Almonds
Almonds have been a healthy snack staple for years. One ounce is about 184 calories, and almonds are high in omega-9 fatty acid. These are good fats that improve heart health. Go for raw or with minimal salt. Pour a few in a plastic bag before work and store them at your standing desk so they’re within arm’s reach. You won’t even have to take a work break!

4. Produce and Hummus
Hummus is the perfect snack no matter the time of day. It contains beneficial fibers and nutrients, and it’s filling when eaten with produce. Try celery, broccoli or carrots. Another favorite is hummus with red bell pepper – a veggie packed full of carotenoids, antioxidants and vitamins.

*Tip: After you return from grocery shopping, chop up your veggies all at once and place them in containers, then you can grab and go when you need a quick healthy snack. You can also rinse your fruits and veggies with vinegar and water to remove most of the pesticides. Learn more, HERE.

5. Avocado
Absolutely delicious with just a hint of lime or salt, avocados are an extremely healthy snack to enjoy mid-morning. Avocados contain nine to 11 grams of fiber per avocado. Slice up half an avocado, or make a spread to put over a tortilla for a quick snack to enjoy.

Try out a few of these during the workweek and let us know how you like them! Do you have any other ideas for quick snacks to enjoy between meals? Let us know!

The post Healthy Snacks to Eat at Your Standing Desk appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

To re-inspire your drive to stand most of the day, here’s a list of the top 10 sitting and standing facts. After reading through these, you may find yourself adjusting your desk and standing more often.

1. One in three Americans is obese, and obese people sit more than 2.5 hours per day than thin people.

2. The bodies calorie burning ability drops to 1 per minute and electrical activity in the leg muscles shut off the moment you sit down.

3. Men and women who sit for more than 23 hours a week are 64% more likely to die from heart disease.

4. Thirty minutes to an hour of daily exercise is not enough to counteract the negative effects of prolonged sitting.

5. Good cholesterol drops by 20% after just two hours of sitting down.

6. A study published by the CDC found that sit to stand devices are an effective method to generate health benefits and combat the negative effects of sitting all day.

7. Standing the majority of the day has been said to increase concentration, focus and overall productivity at the office.

8. A study from the University of Chester found that standing during the week can be the equivalent to running 10 marathons a year.

9. Standing for most of the day has the potential to burn 30,000 more calories in a year. That’s about eight pounds of fat.

10. Regular, brisk walking can help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

The facts continue to go on from here, and we’re sure there will be more to come. So keep standing, moving and stretching throughout your workday to start experiencing better health that you deserve!

The post Top 10 Sitting and Standing Facts appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

A new study found that standing for just a few hours a day has amazing health benefits, and you’ll burn a ton of calories along the way.

Researchers at the University of Chester and the BBC took a group of 10 volunteers and asked them to stand at least three hours out of their day. The volunteers wore an accelerometer that measured their movements, heart rate monitors and glucose monitors.

The results were shocking at best (or maybe not that surprising if you already own an adjustable height desk or even a treadmill desk).

The volunteer’s had a much higher heart rate while they stood. It was about 10 beats per minute faster, so think about this in the long-term. That 10 beat increase adds up to 50 more calories burned per hour when compared to sitting. Throughout the entire year: about 30,000 more calories or eight pounds of fat.

The results also showed that the volunteers’ blood glucose levels normalized much quicker after eating than compared to days when they sat. High glucose means an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes, but standing for a few hours really does make a difference in lessening that risk.

According to Dr. Buckley from the study, “If you want to put [the results] into activity levels then that would be the equivalent of running about 10 marathons a year just by standing up three or four hours in your day at work.”

And there you have it: standing is good for your health, so much so that standing burns calories similar to running 10 marathons a year. Yes, we’ll emphasize that again – 10 marathons a year!

This isn’t the only study done to prove that standing benefits your health. In case you missed it, check out the study from ReadWrite, the technology blog. The participants reported increased concentration levels and better productivity at work. Standing desks really are the gifts that keep on giving!

And thanks to Lifehacker for sharing the great news!

What do you think about the results, does it make you want to stand more often during the day?

The post University of Chester Study: Standing Burns Serious Calories appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Sitting for long periods of time increases your risk of disease, obesity and can even shorten your lifespan

Okay, I hate to sound dramatic, but unfortunately, I’m not exaggerating. Study after study in recent years has shown us what health horrors sitting for long periods of time can do to our bodies. It can cause weight gain, varicose veins, fatigue, disease, and yes, even an earlier death. Of course using an adjustable height desk or standing desk is just one way to combat these problems; but we’ll get back to that in a moment. For now…

The Five Frights of Sitting! (Okay, now I’m being a little dramatic.)

1) We spend 8.5 hours a day in front of a screen. In 2009, Ball State University researchers found that Americans spend almost 9 hours sitting in front of some kind of screen—be it a computer, TV, iPhone, tablet, etc. Another survey conducted around the same time found a similar (and terrifying!) statistic: we spend 153 hours a month watching TV. And that doesn’t include anything watched online or on a smartphone!

2) Only 31 percent of people get the recommended 30 minutes of moderate physical activity 5 days a week—40 percent don’t get any kind of regular exercise at all. Ultimately all of this leads to about 33 percent of the entire week spent sitting. So what does that mean for you?

3) Sitting makes you fat. Obese people tend to sit 2.5 hours a day more than thin or healthy people. Why? For one, when you’re sitting, you are burning less than 1 calorie per hour. The enzymes that break down fat in your body also decrease by 90 percent when you’re sitting. Yes, this happens as soon as you sit down.

4) Sitting stops the flow of blood. When you sit for long periods of time, the blood flow to your legs and feet slows, which among other health concerns, increases your risk for varicose veins (ew!) and hemorrhoids (EW!)

5) Sitting increases your risk for all kinds of diseases.

– Cardiovascular Disease: People who sit all day at work are 2 times as likely to develop cardiovascular disease than people who alternate between sitting and standing. After just 2 hours of siting, your good cholesterol drops by 20 percent, increasing your risk for heart disease.

– Diabetes: After 24 hours of sitting, your insulin effectiveness drops by 24 percent and your risk of diabetes increases.

– Skin cancer: This might sound strange, but it’s true. Three out of four Americans have an increased risk of skin cancer, partly because of sitting inside so much. A recent study in Medical Hypotheses discovered that people who sit inside (watching TV, surfing the web, working, etc.) are more likely to get skin cancer because they lack the vitamin D that natural sunlight provides. So when they do go outside and get some sun, without enough vitamin D, their bodies are unable to fight off melanoma.

So what can you do if you have a desk job? First, take a deep breath; don’t burst into your boss’s office with your resignation. Now let’s look into an adjustable height desk. An adjustable height desk is the ergonomic workstation of the 21^st century.

As you’ve clearly seen above, sitting all day isn’t exactly doing anyone any favors, so many people rush out and buy a standing desk. But being at a standing desk for eight hours straight isn’t ideal either. That’s why an adjustable height desk is the perfect combination. With an adjustable height desk you burn more calories, improve your posture and you are free to move.

Check out our next post on a brief history of the adjustable height desk. And no, this won’t be your typical boring recap—the adjustable height desk actually has some pretty crazy beginnings!

How many hours a day do you sit? How does it affect your life? Comment below!

The post Why Sitting is Killing You appeared first on Xdesk Blog.