Natural Movement More Effective than Sweating at the Gym
If you are convinced that in order to be healthy you should run on a treadmill for hours on end, you are wrong. Research into what factors apparently play a significant role in longevity showed that physical activity affects health profoundly, but natural movement, like gardening, cycling to work, walking your dog, etc., is more effective than artificial training sessions.


Blue Zones
Before we proceed to name the benefits of unconventional (or so it seems) ways to exercise, let us introduce one more tern: Blue Zones. The term denotes the areas where people who are considered the oldest people of all the ones currently living in the world are found. In short, these are longevity spots. The term is not quite scientific, though, as it is part of Dan Buettner’s theory – a trademark, in fact – and this research has yet to be developed further and confirmed. Still, as of this moment, there are five Blue Zones identified (from Italy to Japan), and all of them are famous for producing a large number of centenarians. Studying the possible factors that contribute to their longevity is what interests many a researcher. The curious fact is that these people, who are regarded as the healthiest since they are the oldest and often do not suffer from chronic diseases or dementia despite old age, do not engage in weightlifting, and neither do they run marathons or do whatever else you may consider to be responsible for their health.
As simple as possible
The researchers delving into the question of what factors come into play and help these people sustain good health found that it is their environment and lifestyle that play an important role. According to them, it is natural movement that is the kind of physical activity producing the most significant beneficial effects. Natural movement includes gardening, regular walks, spending a lot of time outdoors, and doing housework – the latter is of great importance, but it is a far cry from what most Americans are used to. Here in the U.S. we strive to bring more convenience into our houses. All mod cons are considered a must. But the natural way is to do everything yourself – wash the dishes, trim bushes, water plants, and avoid other mechanical conveniences that have been introduced over the past few decades.
References:
5 Places Where People Live the Longest and Healthiest Lives – time.com
The Healthiest People In The World Don’t Go To The Gym – qz.com
Study: Even a Little Walking May Help You Live Longer – cancer.org