Just 2 Minutes of Walking After a Meal Is Surprisingly Good for You (Published 2022) (2024)

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Just 2 Minutes of Walking After a Meal Is Surprisingly Good for You (Published 2022)? ›

Research shows that physical activity right after a meal, starting at a mere two to five minutes of walking, has a beneficial impact on post-meal hyperglycemia (elevated blood glucose).

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.

Regulate blood sugar

You don't need to take a long walk to reap the benefits — two to five minutes should do the trick. It's also best to start walking as soon as possible after finishing a meal since blood sugar levels tend to spike between 60 and 90 minutes after eating.

Walking at a brisk pace or moderate intensity is an aerobic exercise. When you do aerobic activities regularly over time, you can see many health benefits: Blood glucose (blood sugar) levels go down.

Walking after eating may be even better for your health than walking at other times of the day. It's been shown to aid digestion, lower blood sugar, and reduce heart disease risk. Even a short 10- to 15-minute walk after every meal can be beneficial.

It will take months to lower. Instead of looking for a quick fix, eat healthily and exercise regularly. In a few months, your healthy lifestyle will reward you with a lower A1C level. Want to learn more about the benefits of counting carbs?

It has been scientifically proven that walking after a meal aids digestion, regulates blood sugar, and promotes weight management. It enhances heart health, improves mood, and fosters better sleep. The aim is not to go for a miles and miles long vigorous walk, but a short, brisk walk of 10-30 minutes.

Some of the recommended exercises include light walking or simple resistance exercises like squats or leg raises. Other useful forms of exercise include weightlifting, brisk walking, running, biking, dancing, hiking, swimming, and more.

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.

How do I get my A1C level down ASAP? ›

Both aerobic exercise and resistance (weight) training lower A1c levels if they're part of a regular routine. There's solid science to support how much working out helps you whittle down your A1c level.

But if you want to use it as the basis for weight loss, one way to help create that deficit is by taking a walk immediately after mealtimes. Walking can boost your metabolism, helping you burn more calories from fat.

Among the metrics the researchers examined were changes in blood levels of glucose and insulin. The data showed that even a five-minute walk after eating a meal had a measurable effect on moderating blood sugar levels. The beneficial effect of walking was observed during a 60- to 90-minute window following the meal.

"Ayurveda believes walking is not just for fat burning, never do brisk walking after meals, it increases body doshas, shatpavali is best. Shat means - 100 and pavali means walk. Walking at least 100 steps after eating your dinner or lunch improves your overall well-being.

The quickest way to lower your blood sugar is to take fast-acting insulin. Exercising is another fast, effective way. However, in severe cases, you should go to the hospital. High blood sugar levels are known as hyperglycemia or high blood glucose.