Walking has always been considered a low-impact, safe
exercise for everyone of all ages. Most experts have been recommending regular
walking exercise, especially brisk walking. But is there a best time for a walk
to maximize its benefits? Recently scientists have found that a brisk 15-minute
walk approximately 30 minutes after a meal exerts significant control over the
high blood sugar of elderly people.
After a meal blood sugar typically spikes and is driven into
the muscle and liver cells by an increase of insulin. As we get older, this
system doesn’t function as efficiently.
Left unchecked, excess blood sugar can contribute to type 2
diabetes and heart disease.
The study examined participant’s walking exercise at
different times of the day. They walked on a treadmill for 45 minutes in the
morning and afternoon and for 15 minutes within three hours after eating their
evening meal. While the morning and afternoon walking was very beneficial, the
short, 15-minute walking exercise after the evening meal was more effective at
reducing the sugar levels in the bloodstream.
This demonstrates that exercise is great at most any time
but maximum benefit can be derived by exercising during a certain timeframe. It
was emphasized that the short, 15-minute walking exercise wouldn’t be ample to
develop much improvement in cardiovascular conditioning though.
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