After a heavy meal, even the lightest form of physical activity will be the furthest thing from your mind. But as it turns out, there are a lot of benefits of walking after eating.
It’s not just about increasing our endorphins or reducing stress levels, when going on these leisurely serotonin-inducing strolls. Walking after eating has been proved to do many things for our overall health and it’s something which you should consider for future meals.
Dr. Heather Viola, DO, primary care physician at Mount Sinai Doctors-Ansonia mentions a few reasons why you should you take a post-meal walk after breakfast, lunch or dinner.
The Benefits of Walking After Eating
Viola says walking after eating has five main health benefits which will improve digestion, promote better sleep pattern, improves blood sugar management, lessen the risk of heart disease and helps to maintain a healthy weight, she breaks it down as the following:
Improved Digestion
Constipation, bloating, acid reflux and upset stomach—are uncomfortable signs which you may experience after you eat. One way to get away from these symptoms are with a quick walk. “Walking after eating helps to [stimulates] your stomach and intestines, making your food move through you faster.
Reduce Heart Disease Risk
Studies have shown that regular forms of exercise are great for your heart health, which lower your blood pressure and cholesterol and lessen the risk of heartburn, stroke, heart attack, and other heart problems.
Regulate Blood Glucose Levels
By not moving after eating might result in excessive spikes in your blood sugar levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that having too much blood sugar in the bloodstream will overwhelm our liver and muscles which usually store blood sugar and cause the insulin in our bodies to store any excess in other places. If this continues, it will make our bodies insulin-resistant over time and set the stage for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Promote Healthy Weight Loss
Regular Exercising is the most effective way to be healthy, but even a short walk after a meal can help to maintain or lose weight. You must burn more calories than you take in to lose weight and that your body expends more energy when you walk, which burns more calories.
Better Sleep
walking after dinner helps to regulate circadian rhythms; it improves the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, making it easier to fall asleep and enjoy deeper, restorative rest. These walks can help with post-meal stomach discomfort and also allows for a more comfortable and—more importantly—uninterrupted sleep throughout the night.
The benefits of walking have been proven to be beneficial and should be done regularly. This will help to boost your overall health.
