Have you heard about the term Shatapavli? What do you choose after every meal – taking a long rest or a stroll? Earlier, healthy way of living was part and parcel of our life .In today’s busy lifestyle, it is really very challenging to be physically fit and energetic. It’s equally essential to have a look at not only what you eat but also to what you do after your meals. Shatpavli is interpreted as walking 100 steps after every meal. This ancient Ayurvedic Indian concept ‘shatapavli’, encourage us to take a stroll after eating. The practice suggests taking at least 100 steps after each meal.
SIGNIFICANCE OF WALKING 100 STEPS POSTMEALS
After you eat, your circulatory system rushes to send a huge nutrient to each and every cell. Post big meals—food and nutrients can pile up, causing arterial and capillary stress whereas arteries try to process post-meal nutrients into your cells. This huge nutrient traffic may cause congestion in the inner city (capillaries). Studies say that a large heavy meal can raise the risk of heart attack four-fold in the two hours after a meal.
SPEED UP DIGESTION
Normally it takes some time for the process of proper digestion which may cause acidity, indigestion and other issues. Post meals walking speed up the secretion of gastric essences and enzymes for breaking your food into nutrient elements.
BALANCES BLOOD SUGAR
Studies say that 15-minute walk after all three meals, blood sugar levels lower on average. After you eat, there is a natural spike in blood sugar as the nutrient is distributed throughout your body. Post-meal walks are a good way to manage post-meal blood sugar spikes by controlling the volatility and duration of the blood sugar spike. Balancing these blood sugar spikes greatly reduces the collateral damage on the cardiovascular system.
BOOSTS METABOLISM
Walking after eating encourages your body to boost your metabolic rate that uses more calories from your meal rather than converting them into glucose or fat storage. More importantly, the metabolic benefits can be magnified if it happens on a regular basis.
BALANCED BLOOD CIRCULATION
Walking 100 steps after meals can activate the muscles and provides better blood circulation through the body. It only takes a 15 minute stroll to reduce the accumulated fat levels in your blood including harmful cholesterol and triglycerides. The blood stream will be supplied with more oxygen as your lungs will demand more air.
WHEN TO GO?
Directly after a meal it’s good to sit and relax, then 15 to 30 minutes after eating, go for a walk. 10 minutes walking or walking 100 steps is enough to provide significant cardiovascular protection.
WHAT NOT TO DO?
It is good to take a stroll after meals, never do brisk walking as it increases the doshas in the body.
TAKE AWAY
It is important to make walking post meals as a habit for lifetime. You can figure out positive results within a few weeks. Walking 100 steps after dinner can improve your sleep, digestion, controls the blood sugar and good metabolism. Small changes can make our life better.