Although the couch or recliner may look inviting for a post-meal nap, taking a brief walk shortly after eating offers great health benefits.
It can help you lose weight, lower your blood sugar, improve your circulation, aid digestion and more.
But don’t go running out the door right after a meal. Instead, wait 20-30 minutes after eating to give your body time to digest the food properly.
“During the digestive process, our body needs a proper blood supply,” said Dr. Gabrielle Sakellarides, a family medicine physician at Mon Health Primary Care in Core, WV. “If a person walks immediately after eating, that blood supply is going away from the digestive system to help those other muscles.”
She said a 15-30 minute walk about a half hour after eating can help improve digestion once the process has had time to start.
Walking after a meal can also help maintain blood sugar, which tends to rise and then fall after a meal. For those with diabetes, a study from the American Diabetes Association shows a post-meal walk could help improve daily blood sugar levels.
Not only will skipping the food coma on the couch benefit your blood sugar and digestive system, you’ll stimulate your metabolism, and in turn, burn a few extra calories with a post-meal walk.
Walking after a meal also helps relieve stress and boosts your blood circulation, ensuring your heart gets a proper supply of oxygen and nutrients.
Emily K. Gallagher
Multimedia Coordinator
Marketing Department
Mon Health Medical Center
Morgantown, WV