Walking within 60 to 90 minutes after eating delivers the best results. Although light walking at any time is good for your health, a short walk within 60 to 90 minutes of eating a meal can be especially useful in minimizing blood sugar spikes, as that is when blood sugar levels tend to peak.
Light walking after a meal – even for 2 to 5 minutes – can reduce blood sugar and insulin levels, the researchers found. Blood sugar levels spike after eating, and the insulin produced to control them can lead to diabetes and cardiovascular issues, the researchers explained.
Because glucose increases to its maximum at 30–60 minutes after a meal, walking must be started before the glucose level reaches a maximum, because once insulin is secreted it will play a role as an obesity hormone.
Now you can add another reason to take a post-meal stroll – it may lower your blood sugar. That excursion doesn't need to take up a huge amount of your time either: Walking as little as two to five minutes after a meal can do the trick, according to a 2022 study in the journal Sports Medicine.
Exercising after a meal may help prevent glucose levels from going too high after ingesting food. On the other hand, exercising before a meal increases the amount of fat you break down in your body and may alter how your metabolism responds to food consumption later in the day.
Just 2 minutes of walking after eating can help blood sugar, study says. Getting up and moving after you eat -- even if it's only for two minutes -- can help control blood sugar levels, a new study says. If you can't do that, try standing. It helps, too.
The walk should ideally be within an hour and a half of eating to derive the benefits to the blood sugar level. The research suggests that an optimal duration of time to walk after eating is 10-15 minutes, but even a few minutes confers significant benefit.”
In a study published in 2009, researchers discovered that a 20-minute walk, about 15 minutes post-dinner, led to lower levels of blood sugar in those who practiced this habit.
Take it easy. If you ate too much – to the point of being overly full – avoid doing any strenuous physical activity, Kim said. “However, some simple stretching exercises, a light walk, some simple household chores aren't bad ideas,” she said.
Turns out, walking shortly after a meal can speed up your metabolism, aid digestion, and help you lose weight.
“Walking 100 steps after every meal is just inviting good digestion habits to your body,” the Ayurvedic expert said, adding that walking and running is the most beneficial way of keeping your body fit and your digestion process effective.
Experts believe that walking at least 100 steps after eating your dinner / lunch improves your overall wellbeing. This includes proper digestion, burning calories, better control of blood sugar levels and triglycerides in the body.
Walking after meals, especially dinner ensures the food is digested well. It also boosts the absorption of nutrients from the food. The physical movement of the body promotes better digestion as it also causes movement in the various organs that are part of the digestive system.
Healthy Eating Habits
Avoid laying down after eating: Keep upright for two to three hours after meals to reduce gastrointestinal discomfort and aid digestion. Eat a well-balanced diet: Plan meals that include fruits and vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. Avoid fatty, fried foods and sugary drinks.
Yoga, walking, and climbing stairs are some of the best post-meal exercises one can practice. Engaging in short bouts of exercises after meals can be coupled with daily errands like dog walking or walking to the market to make it achievable and enjoyable.
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.
Drawbacks of Morning Exercise
And there are other drawbacks to walking in the morning. Body temperature is at its lowest one to three hours before awakening, making the morning a time of naturally lower energy and blood flow. Cold, stiff muscles may be more prone to injury.
During this time, overstuffed guests might engage in conversation, watch TV and fall into a food coma, or perhaps the more intrepid might venture outdoors—maybe for a "post-meal walk," or a "postprandial walk." (Prandial is an adjective meaning "of or relating to a meal.")
More research has found that walking helps speed up the time it takes food to move from the stomach into the small intestines. This could help improve satiety after eating. There's also evidence that links this type of faster digestion with lower rates of heartburn and other reflux symptoms.
On average, most of us can comfortably walk 1,000 steps in ten minutes. This is probably faster than you would walk through the grocery store, but slower than if you were intentionally walking fast because you're late. At this pace, 3 mph, it will take you one hour and 40 minutes to walk 10,000 steps.
You can try a 1/2 banana with a small amount of nut butter, a small serving of fruit with a handful of nuts, a slice of bread or English muffin with low-fat cheese or smear of nut butter, or low-fat Greek yogurt. Be sure to include water or other fluids so you have some hydration on board.
When you exercise too soon after eating, it may cause gastrointestinal issues that hinder your workout. General guidelines suggest exercising 1 to 2 hours after a small meal and 30 to 60 minutes after a snack to fuel your workout and prevent stomach problems.
Drinking plenty of water helps your kidneys flush out excess sugar. One study found that people who drink more water lower their risk for developing high blood sugar levels. And remember, water is the best. Sugary drinks elevate blood sugar by raising it even more.