How many times in your childhood have you heard that you should rest after eating, instead of running, jumping or doing other activities? It turns out that this belief has nothing to do with the truth. On the contrary, experts advise you to go for a leisurely walk right after your meal, rather than taking a short nap. What are the benefits of such a practice? We advise!
As we already mentioned, experts say that being physically active after a meal is much more beneficial to your health than resting on the couch. Of course, we do not mean murderous training here. They can cause discomfort, heartburn and even nausea. It is more about a quiet, slow walk.
Why should we walk after a meal?
We improve digestion
According to a study published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, walking 15 minutes slowly after a meal aids digestion as it speeds up the “emptying of the stomach” of food. In other words, light exercise moves food from the stomach to the intestines.
We stabilize the blood sugar level
According to a 2018 study published in the journal Nutrients, people who ate two slices of white bread and then went out for a walk lowered their blood sugar levels more than those who walked before eating a starchy snack.
The experts also managed to show one more important relationship. “Among 14 healthy women, slow walking for 15 minutes, started immediately after a meal, reduced blood glucose levels by 1,5 mmol / l at the end of the active period, compared to those who sat after eating,” the researchers explained.
To support your metabolism, you can use Living Multivitamin Sport Terranova, which, in addition to improving metabolism, also affects your well-being and appearance.
In 2016, a similar study was conducted on people with type 2 diabetes. It found that walking 10 minutes after each meal helped lower blood sugar levels more than walking for half an hour at other times of the day.
We get rid of gases
A study published in the journal PLOS One showed that in people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, symptoms of this disease (including flatulence) were strongly related to their physical activity. “Increasing your daily step count from 4000 to 9500 steps reduces your symptoms by half,” the researchers said.
We reduce stress and tension
All forms of activity can reduce stress. One 2019 study published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health found that walking in nature for 20 minutes can significantly reduce the levels of cortisol (known as the stress hormone) in the body.