Why Chores Can be Good for your Health

CLEVELAND - We all know household chores can be tedious and time-consuming, but did you know they can also be good for your health? 

“Anything that you do that keeps you active is good for you. So, vacuuming or mopping, gardening, yard work, carrying laundry, groceries, these are the things that are probably more active, and it can lead to the biggest benefits. Every little bit counts. Even if you're doing 20 or 30 minutes at a time,” said Grant Reed, MD, cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Reed said while chores can be beneficial to your health, they are not a substitute for actual exercise. 

The American Heart Association recommends doing at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week. 

Some options include running, biking, swimming, going for a brisk walk, yoga, strength training, hiking and dancing. 

Dr. Reed notes that if you were to do a chore that gets your heart rate up, that could be counted as exercise. 

But ultimately, exercise is the best way to improve your health. 

“Movement increases your flexibility, decreases the risk of fractures as we get older. And specifically, the more we exercise, the more calories we burn. It also speeds up our metabolic rate when we rest. It provides endorphins. And it's something which is very satisfying to many people. It can improve your mood. Ultimately, having a healthy lifestyle is one of the most predictive things when it comes to those patients who have lower risk of heart attack and stroke,” said Dr. Reed.

He adds that it’s never too late to start exercising and reminds those who are new to it to start slow. You don’t want to risk getting hurt.