Here’s Why You Should Walk After Dinner

With busier lifestyles and evolution in the modern world that prefers convenience over good health and wellbeing, we’re getting lazier, and not carving out the time to do ourselves some good. Well if you can’t find the time to hit the gym or take up a sport, then something as simple as walking is the solution. Walking burns calories, activates your digestive system, and helps get those nutrients absorbed better. Wondering what more is there to walking? Read on below to learn more.

Why Should You Not Sleep Immediately after Dinner?

Sleeping immediately after eating is not a good idea since it contributes to weight gain. For starters, you don’t give your body enough time to burn some of the calories it just took in. To make matters worse, when you go to sleep, your digestive system doesn’t get enough time to process the food and absorb the micro and macro nutrients efficiently. This leads to issues like constipation, bloating, gastrointestinal problems, and much more stuff.

Amazing Benefits of Walking After Dinner (Or Any Meal)

Following are the benefits of walking after dinner that are simply too good to ignore.

1. Improves Digestion

Walking gives a boost to the way your digestive system works. When you walk after having dinner, your body produces more gastric enzymes, and your stomach works efficiently to assimilate the nutrients it has absorbed. Better digestion also means you’ll be less prone to constipation, bloating, heartburn, and acid reflux symptoms.

2. Boosts Metabolism

If you’re serious about boosting your metabolism, don’t lay on the couch after eating. Go out for a walk instead. Walking boosts your metabolism, which means that you burn more calories, stay in great shape, and even burn calories while resting. This means it gets easier to burn that stubborn belly fat, and you can get rid of that unwanted body fat as well. So yes, walking after dinner for weight loss works.

3. Boosts Your Energy Levels

What happens when your metabolism picks up, your health improves, and your life gets better by just walking? You have more energy! And that extra dose of energy translates to every other area in your life. You’ll wake up in the mornings happier and racing to go face the day. You’ll chalk out time for mindfulness, journaling, or whatever else you want before going to bed. It changes your life for the better and it’s free.

4. Regulates Blood Sugar Level

Your blood sugar levels will begin to lower by just taking a 30-minute walk every day. Sounds simple? Well, it really is. Walking after dinner for diabetes works wonders and helps in prevention too. Your glucose levels peak 30 minutes after a meal. When you go for a walk around this time, you end up utilizing some of the glucose in your blood. Thus, walking after having a meal keeps your blood sugar in check and eliminates the risk of hyperglycemia.

5. Boosts Immunity

Yes, walking flushes the toxins from your system, makes your internal organs work better, and boosts your immunity. A stronger immunity means you’re less likely to fall prey to the common cold, flu, and any other curveballs or illnesses life throws at you.

6. Regulates Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure is directly related to how your blood circulation works. If you’ve got poor or irregular blood circulation, you’re prone to high or low blood pressure levels. Most of us are well aware of the ill-effects of high and low blood pressure, and the host of health complications. But if your blood pressure stays normal or is regulated, that’s good news for you.

7. Beats Depression

Feeling low? Walking helps you beat depression by eliminating stress. Endorphins are released as you walk which makes you feel good and uplifts your mood. Basically, you turn into a happier you naturally.

8. Gets Your Creative Juices Flowing

If you’re the type of person who finds it difficult to get creative in the latter half of the day, you’ll find that walking is a great way to get those juices flowing. Yes, walking does influence your creativity and gives it a nice boost. You’d actually be surprised by how much when you stick to your nightly routine consistently.

9. Reduces Your Triglyceride Levels

Your triglyceride levels influence how good or bad your cholesterol is. Generally speaking, if you have high HDL (bad cholesterol levels), you’re more likely to fall prone to heart disease, heart attacks, atherosclerosis, stroke, diabetes, and similar medical complications. Walking lowers your HDL levels and keeps your triglycerides in check, which means that it ensures your wellbeing for the long run.

10. Reduces Cravings

If you’re the type who reaches out for late night snacks and unhealthy foods before going to bed, take a walk. It will help you feel more satiated after your meal and curb cravings naturally.

11. Builds a Routine

If you are struggling to create new habits and stick to them – start with walking. There’s nothing more encouraging than sticking to a routine and staying consistent. Over time, the little walks will yield bigger and long-lasting results. And the best part – your dinner is your cue, so you’ll never forget.

12. Gives You a Restful Sleep

More than the physical benefits, we like to consider the emotional and mental benefits of walking. If you have trouble going to bed at night, you’ll be surprised that taking a walk lets you rest easy. It clears your head, which in turn beats insomnia. It’s easier to fall asleep when you’re not thinking too much.

Tips On How to Walk after Having Dinner

Here are a few tips that you should keep in mind while walking after dinner:

1. Plan Out Your Route

How fast you walk, how long you walk, and how you make the most of your walk will depend on this. If it’s your first time, you want to go easy on yourself. Some goals to have for your walks are making a mental note of any new landmarks you come across or making new friends along the way. Switch up your route every few days or alternate day to keep things interesting. You should make it fun in every way possible.

2. Go Out after Eating

Don’t sit and wait after your meal. Go out immediately or else your glucose levels will spike. Wait for 30 minutes if you have heart disease. If you’ve had a huge meal, you might have to wait an hour.

3. Get a Pair of Shoes

You can walk barefoot on grassy terrains. but it’s the modern world we’re talking about, so you’d want to get yourself a nice pair for shoes. Comfortable shoes should provide the bottom of your feet traction, and waterproof boots are a plus for those rainy days.

4. Just 15 Minutes

If it’s your first walk after having a meal, then aim for 15 minutes at a brisk pace. You can ramp it up to 30 minutes once you get used to this.

5. It Doesn’t Have to be Only after Dinner

In fact, you can go out for 15 min walks every time you have a meal. You’ll reap the benefits faster that way and they’ll last longer too.

Other Points to Remember to Maximize the Benefits of Your Post Dinner Walking

To get the benefits of walking after dinner or any meal, here are a few additional tips:

• There are two approaches to this – one is walking after your dinner immediately or waiting an hour and then heading out for your walk.

• If your choosing to walk at a brisk pace, do it for 30 minutes after having your meal immediately. Make sure the meal isn’t too heavy but light. Avoid sugary, greasy, and processed foods since they take a toll on your stomach.

• Don’t drink too much water after your meal. Just two to three sips are more than enough. Drinking too much water can make your stomach feel too full.

• Don’t forget to have fun. Walking can be a great excuse for meeting up with friends and enjoying the outdoors together.

What’s the best part about walking? It’s free. It just takes a little bit of your time but the results are worth it. Don’t be shy and go out for a walk tonight. Your mind, body, and soul will thank you for it.

Also Read:

Surprising Health Benefits of Walking Barefoot
Best Jogging Tips for Better Health and Fitness
Amazing Health Benefits of Climbing Stairs