PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Feeling stuffed after Thanksgiving dinner? According to a University of Washington gastroenterologist, going for a walk after eating can help improve blood sugar control and enhance well-being.



Dr. Chris Damman, a UW gastroenterologist, says going for a walk within 30 minutes of a meal can help alleviate feeling overfull and even has other health benefits.



“Walking after a meal is super healthy in the sense that it will keep your blood sugar down. It also keeps it from spiking and activates your muscles, brings all that sugar into the muscles to use that sugar up instead of storing it in fat cells,” Damman said.





Damman said that even just a five-minute walk has been shown to reduce spikes in blood glucose, benefiting your metabolic health.



“We’re learning that there’s a two-way road between our exercise and the microbes in our guts and vice versa: how our microbes in our gut impact our muscles and exercise. It really goes both directions,” Damman said.

Walking after eating helps reduce blood sugar, alleviates discomfort: UW gastroenterologist