Simple household tasks such as doing the laundry, ironing or washing up may reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease, an Australian study suggests.
Researcher Genevieve Healy said while helping out around the house was no substitute for the 30 minutes of daily exercise recommended by health authorities, light activity was associated with a lower blood glucose level. High glucose levels are associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
"Doing light intensity activity, such as doing the ironing or folding the clothes or going for a gentle walk, was beneficially associated with lower blood glucose levels," Healy told AFP on June 13.
The study, by the University of Queensland and Melbourne's International Diabetes Institute, measured the glucose levels of 173 men and women for one week. It found that for every hour of light chores completed, there was a 0.2 drop in blood glucose levels. "It just means that doing the shopping, getting around your house and doing those chores can actually help," Healy said.