Rates of chronic disease, obesity and stress continue to rise across America.Experts warn that some of the healthiest habits from the nation's earlier centuries may have fallen by the wayside.From walking as a way of life to eating seasonal foods and spending more time outdoors, they say some of these forgotten routines are worth reviving.AMERICAN VACCINES THAT TRANSFORMED PUBLIC HEALTH OVER 250 YEARS: 'OUTWEIGHS HARM'"America needs to get back to its roots healthwise," Dr.Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.IMAGEDr.
Kenneth J.Perry, a physician based in South Carolina, said walking has decreased as people have moved to the suburbs."As Americans moved further out of the city center for more space and larger homes, they spent more time sitting in a car rather than walking to work," he told Fox News Digital.AMERICA'S NATIONAL PARKS COULD ADD YEARS TO YOUR LIFE — HERE'S HOW THEY BOOST HEALTHA study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine showed that prolonged commuting times have been directly linked to increases in BMI (body mass index), waist circumference and overall decrease in metabolic health, the doctor noted.The U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week (about 30 minutes a day, five days a week), which would include brisk walking.IMAGEOnly about one in four U.S.adults meet the recommended guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity, per the CDC."We are a country of wide open spaces and beautiful vistas – we need to walk more and breathe our fresh air," Siegel added.Exposure to morning light has been shown to support circadian health and better sleep, and sunlight is the body's primary natural source of vitamin D."Some individuals may have severe difficulty with sleep, and therefore are having difficulty regulating their personal day-night cycles," Perry said.
"It is well-known that early sunlight helps to...