Here’s why you need to take a walk each time you finish your meals!

From the desk of Miles Everson:

I hope your week is going well!

Every Friday, I talk about health, wealth, well-being, happiness, future of work, book reviews, marketing, tips, etc. in the hopes of helping you improve your personal life and career.

Today, I want to talk about short walks and why you should embark on one each time you finish a meal!

Continue reading below to know more.

Here’s why you need to take a walk each time you finish your meals!

Imagine this: You’ve just eaten a sumptuous meal, complete with all your favorite dishes and dessert.

The best thing is everything you’ve consumed fits within your dietary restrictions and health needs.

Knowing this, there’s a good chance your first instinct is to find the nearest relaxing chair to sit down on for you to relax in.

After all, nothing beats reclining and relaxing after eating a hearty meal.

However, did you know putting in some time to stretch your legs after eating is worth it and good for your overall health?

Getting up and moving after eating a hearty meal is something most people don’t do, since it’s all too tempting to sit still and relax instead.

… but taking the time to walk and stretch your legs—even if it’s just for two minutes—just might be worth it after all.

How so?

Aside from reducing the negative effects of sitting for too long and boosting heart health, walking after eating helps improve blood sugar regulation, digestion, and sleep quality.

• Improved Blood Sugar Regulation

  Blood glucose naturally goes up after eating a meal and as long as it doesn’t go too high or remain high, it’s not concerning.

  However, according to a 2022 study , a short walk after eating can prevent your blood sugar from soaring as high as it would if you sat after consuming your meal.

  This, in turn, helps you keep your insulin—hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar—levels stable.

• Better Digestion

  According to a 2020 research about people with irritable bowel syndrome, walking helped reduce bloating and helped in stimulating the stomach and intestines to start the digestion process.

• Improved Sleep Quality

  Walking after eating your breakfast, lunch, and dinner is also beneficial to your sleep quality.

  This is because constant light exposure throughout the day plays a pivotal role in regulating your internal clock and sleep-wake cycle.

  Also, walking before bedtime (preferably after dinner), can help decrease stress and calm down your nervous system before sleeping.

  Watching the sunset or being exposed to nighttime darkness signals your body that it’s time to release melatonin, also known as the sleep hormone.

So, does this mean that you have to walk immediately after eating?

No, you do not .

The 2022 study that we mentioned above suggests that as long as you take your walk within 60 to 90 minutes of eating, you’ll be able to reap the blood sugar-lowering benefits of walking after your meal.

Also, it was discovered that walking for as little as two to five minutes after a meal was already enough to help regulate and lower your blood sugar.

Should you, however, fancy an immediate and longer stroll after your meal, a 2011 study found that a brisk 30-minute walk led to significant weight loss.

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While it may not seem like much, walking after each meal provides a significant benefit to your health and overall well-being.

The best thing about this is the activity requires minimal effort, so whether you walk for two minutes or 30 minutes, you’re certain to get health benefits from it.

Since walking is a relatively easy and relaxing activity, this is something you can fit into your daily routine.

So, what are you waiting for?

The next time you eat a meal, make sure to get up and walk for a while!

You never know, this just might be what you need to better improve your well-being!

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