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The Dangers of Too Much TV
We know too much television is bad for us. Reports tell us everyday about the dangers of television. Ironically, you often see these reports about the horrors of television during primetime news programs, but I digress. Regardless of the hype factor, there is something to be said for these reports. Too much television can be bad for you, and in more ways than the obvious.
Health and Weight
The most glaring problem, and the one that seems to be the lead story on every news program, is that sitting around all day in front of the TV can make you fat. And that fat can make you unhealthy. A sedentary lifestyle, zoned out sitting on your couch, is completely unwholesome.
The human body is designed for movement, and without it, it actually loses muscle. So, the longer you go without exercising, the less energy and strength you will have to get started again. It is a vicious cycle. You eat, sit, loose muscle, gain fat, and it gets harder every day to break out of the downward spiral.
With excess body fat, even if you are not technically overweight, comes health problems. Fat makes your heart work harder, and the lack of exercise makes your heart and lungs less efficient. So even sitting completely still, your heart is beating harder over time to compete its basic function. Other serious health risks from a sedentary lifestyle are diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
Social
Human beings are social creatures, and often evenings are a time for relaxation and sharing with friends and family. If an entire family is staring mindlessly at the television screen, the members are not communicating. They are together, yes, but physical proximity is not a substitute for conversation and stimulating dialog.
Activities such as exercise classes, continuing education, and even playing video games or chatting online require more energy and social skills than watching television. Also, the programming on television is often not the best example of quality family or social interaction. Wouldn’t it be best for your child to experience the real benefits of quality family times rather than watch dysfunctional families do battle on the screen?
Brain
Science has shown that one of the keys to beating the aging process is to continually challenge your brain. Learning new things and overcoming obstacles help your brain form new connections and can even prevent conditions such as dementia. There is a reason television viewing is called “mindless.” Sleeping actually requires more neurological activity than watching TV.
By watching too much television, you have not only missed opportunities to exercise your brain in more beneficial ways, but you’ve also allowed your brain to sink into a vegetative state for hours at a time. Sometimes this relaxation can benefit us in the short run, but more often than not, by watching television, we are simply making ourselves dumber. It really does kill brain cells.
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