Contributed by: Healthians Team
Introduction
Nothing is as soothing as a post-dinner walk.
Over the years, people have become serious about regular exercising and keeping the body fit and healthy.
Walking after dinner unlocks a wealth of health benefits. Walking is a complete body exercise, as many experts have validated walking to be a very effective way to keep one’s health and calories in check.
Walking 10,000 steps each day usually burns about 2,000 to 3,500 calories per week. You could lose approximately one pound per week by completing 10,000 steps every day.
Walk helps in keeping the body active and it will do magic for you. Here we are going to tell you about some of the awesome benefits you can get from going for a walk after dinner.
Improves digestion
Walking helps in stimulating digestion. Walking aids in producing more gastric enzymes that improve digestion and reduce bloating and constipation.
Improved digestion prevents issues like peptic ulcers, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticular disease, and colorectal cancer.
Helps manage blood sugar levels
Another prominent benefit of walking is that it improves blood sugar levels. For people with types 1 and 2 diabetes which impair blood sugar processing – a long walk after eating may prevent excessive blood sugar spikes, thereby reducing the amount of insulin or oral medications.
The blood-sugar-lowers as the positive effects of the post-meal walk and is particularly important for people with diabetes, but other people can also observe great results from taking regular walks.
Helps you lose weight
It is proven that exercise with a balanced diet plays an important role in losing weight.
If you are on the journey of weight loss then walking can help you lose body fat.
Cardio is an excellent way to promote weight loss, especially if you combine it with strength training.
Going for a stroll after having dinner is definitely going to help you lose weight and it also lowers your appetite.
Helps manage high blood pressure
If you have high blood pressure or hypertension then you must start following the habit of walking after meals.
According to a study, taking three 10-minute walks every day can help lower your blood pressure.
It could be even better if you continue these walks for a long period. As per the study, a 6-month walking program reduced participants’ systolic blood pressure (the top number of blood pressure) by 13 per cent.
You can plan multiple walks in a day after breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Improves the sleep cycle
Many studies have shown that regular exercise can relieve insomnia (a common sleep disorder). After dinner, a leisurely walk can also increase the amount of slow-wave sleep a person gets.
In a 2019 study, it was discovered that when people increased their walking time each day, their sleep quality improved. So for sound sleep, you must walk after the last meal of the day.
Makes your heart healthy
Walking keeps your ticker healthy. Walking can help lower your blood pressure and LDL cholesterol (the “bad” kind), plus reduces your risk of heart attack or stroke.
According to a 2013 study, breaking up long periods of sitting all day with short exercises can help lower blood triglycerides. Take short 10-minute walks after each meal to reap these benefits if you work a desk job or are working from home.
Final thoughts
In this article, we’ve touched base on why you should take at least 15 minutes to break for a walk after your meals, especially after the last meal of the day.
So, if you want to be fitter and healthier without long and intense workout sessions then start taking up walks after meals to experience magical benefits.
Moreover, you should also frequently opt for health screening. It provides you with vital insights into your health, allowing you to take necessary measures to improve it.
