Become N.E.A.T.’er to maximize your health benefits!

Become N.E.A.T.’er to maximize your health benefits!

By Erika Lundgren, Functional Nutritionist

Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis is physical activity that is NOT performed for sport, fitness or health, constitutes anything that is NOT rest, and is PART of our total energy expenditure. Anyone for burning extra calories? Yep, I thought so.

Do you remember being told by your teacher to “stop fidgeting in your chair” or are you someone who can’t sit still and is always doing stuff? You might be part of a group called NEAT Activators, which sounds somewhat like a superhero, but it is theorized that this group of people used physical activity as a way to find solutions to famine while their counterparts, NEAT Conservers, hunkered down to conserve energy.

Luckily in today’s society, most of us don’t have to migrate somewhere else to seek or hunt food, but we can consciously activate our NEAT to maximize energy expenditure and help maintain metabolic health. How?

• Physical hobbies: Gardening, Golf, Bowling, Hiking, Dancing … What brings you joy?
• Subtle Movements: Rocking, Pacing, Fidgeting, Foot tapping … Level up the health factor by listening to music while you do it! Music provides a total brain workout and keeps it engaged throughout the aging process. 
• Walking: Park further away from your destination, Walking breaks @ the office, Taking your pup for a walk – it improves their well being too!
• Cooking/Baking
• DIY projects … They can help reduce stress and improve your mood!
• Cleaning the house: Washing, Vacuuming, Scrubbing the tub
• Rearranging Furniture
• PLAY!! My personal favorite! No one said kids need to have all the fun!
• Wash the car
• Stand up and walk … set an alarm 
• Take the stairs
• Use a balance ball for your desk chair, stand-up desk or wobble cushion (I use one of these!)

Just remember, NEAT is not a substitute for the recommended 150-minute weekly target of exercise, but it’s a wonderful compliment to improve your overall health!

Lear, D. (2022, September 20). Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) and Your Health. Dr. Scott Lear: Become the Healthiest You. https://drscottlear.com/2020/09/30/non-exercise-activity-thermogenesis-neat-and-your-health/