How Much Exercise Should I Have? Today Article

by | May 6, 2019 | Activity, Research

Today Article: How much exercise do you need to prevent heart disease, cancer?

The World Health Organization suggests that you strive for 600 metabolic Equivalent (MET) minutes per week. New research suggests that aiming for 3,000 to 4,000 MET minutes per week will achieve maximum benefit. At rest, you use 1 MET per hour. Walking briskly requires 5 times more energy than being at rest. 1 x 5 = 5 METS What do 3,000 – 4,000 METs look like? Each day :

  • Climbing stairs for 10 minutes
  • Vacuuming for 15 minutes
  • Gardening for 20 minutes
  • Running for 20 minutes
  • Walking or cycling for 25 minutes

Or do all of these every day:

  • Biking for an hour
  • Walking the dog for 30 minutes at a leisurely stroll
  • Cooking and washing dishes for half an hour

Or do this every day:

  • Running at a vigorous pace for an hour

All of these activities are cumulative. You don’t need to just climb stairs for 10 solid minutes. You just need to have a total for the day of 10 minutes.

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