Light Exercise After a Meal Might Be Good for Your Health, Study Finds

As a kid, your mother may have warned you to wait at least 30 minutes before jumping into the pool after eating. But according to a recent study, light exercise after you eat a meal is actually helpful .

The findings suggest that a quick walk after a meal – even for as little as two to five minutes – can improve blood sugar levels and potentially reduce the chances of developing diabetes or cardiovascular issues.

>Talk with your primary care provider about how to keep your blood sugar levels within target.

According to the study authors, the contractions of your muscles use glucose and lower blood sugar levels. When done before the glucose peak – 60 to 90 minutes after eating – it can prevent a glucose spike.

As of 2019, more than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and another 96 million American adults are prediabetic.

To read what Dr. Michael LeMay, endocrinologist with Hartford HealthCare Medical Group, has to say, visit the Hartford HealthCare Health News Hub.