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Make like a royal lemur

What are we talking about? Simple: research suggests sitting for long periods increases several markers of cancer risk, and the American Institute for Cancer Research says making room in your day for several short breaks can lower your risk of the disease.

A brisk 30-minute walk is one way of reducing your risk, but that 30 minutes only accounts for about three per cent of a person’s waking day. That’s where the breaks come in. The Institute suggests talking a one- to two-minute activity break for every hour spent sitting.

Their tips for adding more movement include standing up and walking around when talking on the phone, setting the timer on your computer or phone to remind you to take a short walk down the hall every hour, and getting together and walking with a colleague to brainstorm an idea rather than sending an e-mail.