Watching TV is an enjoyable pastime, and we all love to binge-watch our favorite shows and movies. However, sitting in front of a TV screen for hours on end is not good for you, and it can lead to several health issues like obesity, high blood pressure, and eye problems.
There is no reason why you cannot enjoy watching TV regularly, but you should combine this with healthy habits. Here are three ways that TV addicts can improve their health:
1. Take regular screen breaks
Watching too much TV has been linked to eye problems like eye strain, dryness, and fatigue. According to Healthline, eye strain symptoms are caused because the number of times you blink per minute decreases by around 50% when you watch TV. This can cause your eyes to get dry, irritated, and tired.
The easiest way to avoid eye strain symptoms when you watch TV is by taking regular screen breaks. Try to take a break from your TV screen every 20-30 minutes to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. This will encourage you to be more active and help to prevent issues like eye strain, headaches, and fatigue. If you are watching a long program or movie, then pause the TV so that you can take regular breaks and avoid sitting for long periods.
2. Choose healthy snacks
TV watching is associated with unhealthy eating habits and binge eating. Most people like to enjoy a snack when they are watching a TV show or movie. However, snacking can add hundreds of extra calories to your daily diet, and popular TV snacks like candy and chocolate are loaded with sugar. If you are worried about your sugar intake, then you can order a home HBA1C test kit to monitor your blood glucose levels and make necessary changes to your diet.
Regular snacking in front of the TV can lead to weight gain and obesity, so you must keep your snacking under control. If you want to have a snack while watching TV, then opt for a healthy option like popcorn, rice cakes, fresh fruit slices, or fat-free yogurt.
3. Stay active while you watch
Your baseline metabolic rate (BMR) becomes extremely low when you are sitting watching TV, which means your body burns very few calories. Staying active while you watch TV is a great way to increase your BMR and burn extra calories. This will aid you in maintaining your ideal weight avoid unwanted weight gain.
You could buy a treadmill and walk or jog while you watch TV. Exercising will seem like much less of a chore when you are watching your favorite TV shows at the same time. You could also do household chores like ironing to be more active while you watch TV.
Summary
There is nothing wrong with enjoying TV, but viewing is linked to sedentary behavior and unhealthy eating. The best way to stay healthy while enjoying your favorite programs and movies is by combining your love of TV with healthy habits.
Take regular screen breaks, choose low-calorie snacks, and try to stay active while you watch. These tips will help you to stay healthy while enjoying TV.