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 , they say some of these forgotten routines are worth reviving.
“America needs to get back to its roots ,” Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.
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Dr. 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.
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A 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.
Only about one in four U.S. adults meet the recommended guidelines for both aerobic and , per the CDC.
“We are a country of wide open spaces and beautiful vistas â we need to walk more and breathe our fresh air,” Siegel added.
Exposure to morning light has been shown to support circadian health and , 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.Â
“It is well-known that early sunlight helps to regulate the circadian rhythm of animals and may be helpful in regulating sleep patterns.”
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Sunlight exposure can also have positive effects on health, the doctor said. “The hormonal balance that is regulated by the circadian rhythm can also lead to better weight management and control.”
Surveys show that nearly half of U.S. adults spend less than five hours per week in nature â but time outdoors is known to be a natural health-booster.
A landmark study of nearly 20,000 adults found that people who got at least 120 minutes per week in nature were significantly more likely to be in good health than those who spent no time outside.
Another review found that combining exercise with time outdoors was more beneficial than just exercise or nature exposure alone, with improvements seen in mental health and chronic disease risk.
There are some health benefits to turning in earlier, research has shown.
Observational studies have found that people with very late bedtimes often have higher risks of heart disease, metabolic disorders and mortality.
“As we know that the only steadfast way to is to be in a calorie deficit, if an individual is using the late night hours to overindulge, going to bed earlier may help
