Walking after meals: a simple habit that can improve your health

Walking after eating is used as an aging method to improve digestion and general health. It is also recommended as a safe strategy to maintain a healthy weight. While we may have heard the benefits of this simple exercise from older people, knowing the scientific reasons behind it will help you make better choices.

A walk after meals can be helpful for people trying to control their weight. The body tries to digest food after a meal, and slightly increasing metabolism, such as gentle exercise like walking, helps speed up this process. In addition to walking, regular activity can result in significant calorie reductions over time.

Let’s look at some of the benefits of taking a walk after dinner

• Improves digestion: Walking improves digestion by stimulating the stomach and intestines. As undigested food is broken down, gas sometimes builds up in the digestive tract, causing bloating. Walking is a type of exercise that can help prevent indigestion and bloating.
• Lower blood sugar levels: Walking after eating has several benefits, one of which is that it can help lower blood sugar levels. Your blood glucose (sugar level) fluctuates throughout the day. It increases after eating, but usually returns to normal after a few hours. This process can be accelerated by walking.
• Maintains sleep schedule: Taking a walk after every meal can help you sleep better and healthier. Walking and other forms of exercise can improve the quality of your sleep by reducing stress and balancing your circadian rhythms. Your body’s internal 24-hour clock, known as your circadian rhythm, regulates your sleep-wake cycle.
• Improves mood: Taking a walk after dinner, or at any time, can improve your mood. Regular walking can improve mental health, reduce stress and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Walking after meals can become a calming and engaging activity.
• Maintaining weight: You can lose or maintain weight by burning calories with low-impact aerobic exercise such as walking. It also helps in the development of a fitness regimen.

How long should you walk after a meal?

According to Healthline, a steady walk for about 10 minutes can help you reap the benefits of post-meal exercise. This duration is also comfortable because it does not affect your daily routine. By taking three 10-minute walks a day, you can easily achieve 30 minutes of exercise, which is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention