Most of us are obsessed about what we should be eating. Relative little attention is paid on how to eat and what to do AFTER you eat. It has generally been regarded as a good thing to go for a walk after meals. Here are six things you may want to know about this:
1. Walking after meals aids digestion
A study in 2008 showed that walking after consuming a large meal sped the rate at which food moved through the stomach.
2. It regulates blood sugar levels
Another study in 2009 showed that a 20 minute walk after a meal helped regulate blood sugar levels.
3. It can be a short walk
The good news is that your walk can be as short as 15 to 20 minutes. Ayurveda has long been a proponent of walking after meals, and it indicates that even a ten minute walk can be very effective.
4. It should not be strenuous
The walk after meals should be a leisurely stroll. No jogging and no power-walking. Your body needs to focus its energy on the process of digestion. This is not the time to engage in any activity that needs a lot of energy.
5. If you cant walk don’t sit
If for some reason you cannot go for a stroll after your meal, see to it that you do not remain seated for the next 20 to 30 minutes. Do some light work that needs standing and/or moving about.
6. It should not add to your stress
If the temperature is too high or too low, or if going out adds to your stress, then it may be better to skip the walk. For about 30 minutes after your meal, you may also want to skip any activity that adds to your stress level, including activity that needs strenuous or stressful mental effort.
Related: NY Times article on walking after meals
You may also like: Seven Insights Into Mindful Eating
Credits:This has been written by Raj Shah and edited by Ketna Shah.