While eating healthy is one of the important acts that can keep us in good health, exercising regularly is just as crucial—even a simple brisk walk.
In fact, a daily 20-to-30-minute brisk walk not only can stimulate our metabolism, but also improve our breathing and muscle tone, not to mention burn off 150 to 200 calories! The question is, “When is the best timing to walk—before or after eating?”
Many people do have a perception that it’s better to exercise after having food than before. It is because, first, the exercise will help the digestion a lot more, and second, if they work out and then go to eat, it makes them eat more. Thus, to take a walk after having a meal sort of has become a common practice in many cultures. However, in Traditional Chinese Medicine viewpoint, we are better off to go for a walk before eating.
The truth is, our body needs energy for digesting the food. So, if we walk right after feeding our body, the walk will take energy away from the digestive process and may cause gastric problems. Furthermore, having food before exercise, particularly a high-fat meal, puts stress on the cardiovascular system. That’s why anyone who has heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure should avoid eating before exercise.
Then, what is the best time to go for a walk? That is before breakfast. The reason is after the overnight fast, our body has lesser reserves of blood glucose, which is its ideal source of energy for physical activity. Translation? We will use up more fat when we walk before having breakfast than after.
Image by lakewentworth
0 Responses to “Sweat Before Eating”