Fight festive over-indulgence with a lunchtime walk

A 30 minute brisk walk can reduce the levels of fats, such as cholesterol, in your blood for up to two days

Research funded by the British Heart Foundation demonstrates that exercising may actually change the structure of blood fats (lipids) allowing the body to get rid of them more easily. The research group asked a sample of overweight men to walk on a treadmill for two hours. They then looked at how quickly blood lipids were made and broken down by the men’s bodies one day later the exercise session. These results were compared to their levels of blood lipids before the exercise session. The research team leader Dr Jason Gill explains:

"We can think of the level of lipids in our blood as being like the level of water in a bath. To reduce the water level you can either turn off the tap, or increase the size of the plughole to let it drain out. For blood lipids this is equivalent to producing less, or breaking them down more."

Basically, the research suggests that exercise works at the ‘plughole’ end of the process, increasing the body’s ability to break down the fats faster. It is likely that this occurs through structural changes to the lipid particles making them more amenable to clearance from the blood. Dr Gill says:

"The lipid lowering effect of each exercise session lasts for a couple of days, so it is important to undertake regular physical activity to maximise the benefits."

Be physically active at work

How can you get your 30 minutes a day? Being active during the working day is a great way to ensure you meet the recommendations. We've got plenty of ideas and resources about how to be more active at work. Check out our Be Active section.

Top 3 resources on physical activity

1. Think Fit! Be Active!
2. Get active, stay active
3. Be active for life

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