Walking right after a meal is not a problem, it is even a great idea. This activity promotes digestion and helps your body regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It also improves heart health and can lead to better sleep. And, of course, it helps you lose a few pounds.
Main reasons to go for walk after eating
1. Walking after eating promotes digestion
Walking stimulates the functioning of your stomach and intestines, which facilitates the transit of food through the digestive system. For some people, however, walking with a full stomach has the opposite effect and leads to gastrointestinal problems. In this case, it is enough to wait fifteen minutes before going out and walking at a slow pace.
2. Regulates blood pressure
If your blood pressure is too high, you won’t be able to make it go away while walking, but it can help regulate it. A limited study showed that walking for ten minutes three times a day, for example after each meal, already gives some results.
3. Controls blood sugar
Exercising after a meal, including walking, can help prevent blood sugar spikes. This is therefore an important recommendation for diabetics.
4. Improves cardiovascular health
Exercise, in general, helps keep your heart healthy, and walking is one of them. Sufficient physical exercise can help reduce not only your blood pressure, but also your “bad” LDL cholesterol, and therefore your risk of stroke or heart attack. Research shows that if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, it’s good to interrupt the day with regular exercise or short walks. The ideal is to take a short walk of 10 minutes after each meal.
