How a Two-Minute Walk After a Meal Can Benefit Your Health

It’s not surprising that research shows taking a walk after a meal can benefit your overall health, but you may be pleased to hear that just two minutes of movement can do the trick. A study published earlier this year found that a light-intensity walk — a.k.a. a leisurely stroll — lasting anywhere from two to five minutes had a significant effect on participants’ blood sugar levels. The key, the study said, is going for that walk within 60 to 90 minutes of eating a meal, preferably both lunch and dinner. For those who may not have time to go for even a short walk during the workday, one doctor said that simply standing rather than staying seated can help as well. In other words, every little bit of movement counts. “It’s a gradual effect of more activity, better health,” preventative cardiologist Dr. Kershaw Patel told The New York Times. “Each incremental step, each incremental stand or brisk walk appears to have a benefit.” So consider taking the long way back to your desk after lunch, or convincing your family to go on a group walk to catch the sunset after dinner — it doesn’t have to be long.

Inside the Study