Moving your body after a meal, especially taking a light walk, provides various health benefits. I will explain in more detail why it is important to be active after eating, even for a short period.

Reasons to move your body after a meal

1. Digestive promotion

Mechanism: Light physical activity after meals promotes gastrointestinal motility, helping food pass more smoothly through the digestive tract. This accelerates the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine, improving the digestion process.

Benefits: It can help reduce gastrointestinal symptoms such as indigestion, bloating, and discomfort. In particular, it assists in alleviating the heaviness or discomfort experienced after meals.

2. Blood sugar control

Mechanism: Post-meal activity helps muscles use glucose as energy, preventing a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. This also allows muscles to respond better to insulin, contributing to blood sugar regulation.

Advantages: This is especially important for people with diabetes or those having difficulty controlling blood sugar levels, and it can improve long-term blood sugar management and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes.

3. Improvement of energy levels

Mechanism: Light activity increases blood flow in the body, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells. This supports the body's energy production process.

Advantages: Moving your body after meals can help reduce fatigue or drowsiness commonly experienced in the afternoon and assist in maintaining energy levels throughout the day.

4. Weight Management

Mechanism: Post-meal activity helps with weight management by burning additional calories. Even short periods of activity can contribute to weight control in the long run.

Benefits: Regular post-meal activity helps prevent weight gain and maintain a healthy weight. Additionally, it can contribute to increasing metabolic rate.

5. Improvement of mental health

Mechanism: Light physical activity reduces stress hormone levels and promotes the secretion of brain chemicals that improve mood.

Advantages: This can reduce stress and tension felt after meals, and enhance mental satisfaction and happiness. Additionally, it helps improve mental clarity and concentration.