Strolling After Meals: A Simple Trick for Better Health
For centuries, folks in the sunny Mediterranean practiced a healthy post-meal tradition: a leisurely walk. Now, research adds another benefit to this routine—lowering blood sugar levels. Just 2-5 minutes of walking after eating can make a difference, according to a 2022 study in Sports Medicine.
Standing helps too, but walking has a more significant impact. Intermittent breaks in sitting, either standing or light walking, were found to reduce glucose levels. A short post-meal walk helps blood sugar rise and fall more gradually, promoting stable insulin levels.
Why does this matter? Keeping blood sugar from spiking is crucial for overall health, as spikes and fast falls can raise the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Movement, like walking, helps muscles clear sugars from the bloodstream.
So, apart from the blood sugar benefits, remember that even a brief daily walk adds up! Meeting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week reduces the risk of all-cause mortality by 33%, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In summary, a simple post-meal walk isn’t just a pleasant tradition but a health booster. Try it out—you might be surprised by the positive impact on your well-being!
(Credit: Original information from CNN)
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https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/02/health/walking-blood-sugar-study-wellness/index.html