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.
If you've overeaten, take a gentle walk to help stimulate the process in your body that pushes the food down your gastrointestinal tract. Don't run or overexert yourself, though. If you work too hard, blood will flow to your legs rather than your stomach, and digestion will slow down. No napping.
Stay Upright
Slouching or, even worse, lying down right after eating can encourage food to move back up and out of your stomach into your esophagus. Remaining upright and avoiding positions in which you're leaning back for two to three hours after a large meal will minimize the risk for heartburn, Dr. Saha advises.
Experts recommend waiting at least three hours after you've eaten to go to bed. This allows your body time to digest your food so you're not up at night with an upset stomach, indigestion, or acid reflux.
Lying down (or not)
When you do lie down, though (ideally at least three hours after a meal), consider lying on your left side, since that position promotes better digestion by protecting against heartburn and allowing gravity to more efficiently pull waste down through the colon.
In fact, drinking water during or after a meal helps how your body breaks down and processes food (digestion). Water is vital for good health. Water and other drinks help break down food so that your body can take in (absorb) the nutrients. Water also makes stool softer, which helps prevent constipation.
To hasten digestion, reduce fat storage, and avoid heartburn after eating too much, go for a walk or sip 4 to 8 oz. of water — but don't overdo it. A psychological trick that may make you feel better is to plan your next meal — when it will be, and what foods it will include.
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.
If you sleep directly after eating, you'll probably encounter indigestion, heartburn, and other digestive problems that disrupt nighttime sleep. You also increase your risk of unhealthy weight gain, obesity, and poor health over time.
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.
Usually, it is advised that you wait for about 2-3 hours before going to bed once you have had your dinner. This provides ample time for digestion and the contents in your stomach to move into the small intestine – and reduces the likelihood of various digestive problem symptoms.
Since the water goes directly through, the requires nutrients and vitamins don't reach the liver and digestive tract. This is because when you stand and drink water, it travels through the system really fast and you risk your lungs and heart functions. The oxygen levels also get disturbed this way.
Drink one glass of water 30 minutes before a meal to help digestion. Remember not to drink too soon before or after a meal as the water will dilute the digestive juices. Drink water an hour after the meal to allow the body to absorb the nutrients.
Water diminishes the digestive fire as it acts as a coolant that can interrupt the digestive process. It also dilutes the digestive juices. Once you are done with your meal, wait for at least 30 minutes before sipping on some water.
You should wait for at least 2 hours after a meal before you go to your bed. If you've developed a habit of lying down soon after you eat your food, you may eventually develop gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) in which your lower esophagus fails to close off properly after you've eaten something.
The stimulation also helps your stomach produce gastric acid and protease pepsin. 'This is a gastric enzyme which helps your stomach break food down into smaller particles so it can be absorbed properly,' says Giannis. In turn, this gives your digestion a boost, easing symptoms of indigestion.
Sleeping on your left side can help naturally open the airways and make breathing easier. You may also find relief if you rest on your right side, but doctors believe sleeping on your left side to be more effective. It's also the recommended sleeping position for people with sleep apnea.
Lying down after eating can cause stomach acid to increase, creating a feeling of bloating, indigestion, especially for people with stomach conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
While we encourage you to avoid late-night snacking, we also discourage you from going to bed while hungry. Your body constantly needs energy to function, even during sleep. Going to bed without a last meal means your body has less energy to rejuvenate and repair itself.