Be honest: Do you get enough exercise?
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, less than 5 percent of us do–and even more of us are indulging in a sedentary lifestyle.
But a lack of motivation isn’t necessarily to blame here, if you look at recent research.
In Circulation, researchers examined a group of 1,600 healthy adults who wore fitness trackers for one week, which tracked any sort of physical activity they engaged in.
They also kept tabs on their diet to measure for an element called phosphate.
Phosphate is commonly found in processed foods, believed to contribute to obesity and obesity-related health conditions, such as heart disease.
After just one week, they found that people with higher levels of phosphate were less physically active–and just didn’t seem motivated to work out overall.
In addition they were less healthy overall, when compared to those who consumed less phosphate.
Bottom line here?
Processed food can wreck your health in many ways–and now it could even demotivate you from hitting the gym.
To increase your motivation, it’s time to put down those sugary sodas, baked sweets, and processed meats in lieu of healthier options.