It is very common that people want to lose weight, either to avoid major health problems or for simple aesthetics. It is true that there are certain behaviors that can help reduce or increase weight, beyond exercising and maintaining a healthy diet prescribed by a specialist. However, there are also many myths about this and some behaviors can even be dangerous.
It is common for many people to believe that when they finish eating, they should exercise to burn the calories ingested and, in this way, lose weight faster. However, not everyone is totally sure of this, so if you want to know more information about this behavior, we advise you to continue reading the following FastlyHealarticle on whether to exercise after eating: is it good or bad?
Table of Contents
Diet and exercise
It is important to know that the food eaten is the body’s fuel, so the diet that is carried out must be balanced and structured by a professional so that there is never a deficit of any essential vitamin or mineral for the body.
During exercise, the body uses all the sources of nutrients it has, that is, carbohydrates, proteins and fats, mainly. The consumption of these components and which one the body uses the most will depend on the type of exercise, its intensity and its duration, so it is essential to always stay properly fed.
Many people who want to lose weight skip meals or do not eat enough to avoid putting on a few pounds, which is totally wrong. Doing this can cause different alterations and the body will never have enough energy to face daily activities, so it could generate extreme fatigue, headaches, a weakened immune system, muscle wasting, among other alterations.
Is it good or bad to exercise after eating?
From Mayo Clinic [1] they recommend not exercising after eating , but on the contrary, it is important to wait approximately 3 hours to give the body the possibility to digest all the food correctly, although this time can vary from 1 to 4 hours depending on serving size. The myth that some people believe that going for a run or doing physical activity as soon as you finish eating helps you lose weight faster and more effectively is totally false. On the contrary, having this behavior can generate various alterations and is not recommended at all.
Exercising on a full stomach can lead to colic, stomach upset, diarrhea, or nausea. Despite this, many people may not have enough time to wait 3 hours after eating, so in these cases it is advisable to exercise when at least an hour has passed, but it is important not to eat a large portion of food so as not to cause any type of alteration in the body.
This is why it is essential to maintain a detailed routine by a specialist regarding food and exercise. This is because it is important to know what foods to eat if you plan to exercise shortly after eating. In the following article, we explain what foods to eat before training .
If you follow all the instructions and you still do not feel totally well when you exercise, it is important that you consult with a professional so that they can evaluate the case and take the corresponding tests. It is necessary to detail what you feel, what you eat and how much time is allowed to pass between food and exercise so that the professional can make a more correct assessment.
What to eat after exercising
It is also highly advisable to eat well after exercising, preferably within 2 hours after the session. This is because physical activity uses the body’s reserves to transform them into energy, so the body needs to recover the proteins and other nutrients that were used to improve performance.
Despite the detailed, it is important to know how to choose the correct foods to eat after exercising, since many times when you finish you feel very hungry and you choose to eat anything fast and unhealthy. Experts may recommend consuming premium carbohydrates and protein.
The most prominent foods that help to recover the components used by the body and at the same time improve the body composition obtained with training are:
- Plums
- Yoghurt.
- Rice toasts.
- Pretzels.
- Serrano ham.
- Orange juice.
- Banana.
- Walnuts and almonds.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Exercising after eating: is it good or bad? , we recommend that you enter our category of Physical Activity .
Referencias
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20045506
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.