If you walk a hundred steps after dinner, you can live to be ninety-nine!

Modern people sit for long periods of time. During the busy 8 hours, their buttocks have to be glued to the chair all the time. After a long time, their muscles become stiff, their waists and legs ache, the organ functions of the whole body are weakened, and various diseases follow. Therefore, after dinner, when the sun sets and the lights come on, people strolling on the streets, squares and rivers in any city become a beautiful sight. “Take a hundred steps after a meal, and you will live to be ninety-nine.”

Walking is like giving your whole body a massage. Don’t underestimate walking. Experts at home and abroad have found that when people walk, 95% of the body’s muscles and bones are mobilized, metabolic activity is enhanced, and blood flow is smooth, just like giving a whole body massage from head to toe, which not only relieves stress but also protects the heart and brain.

When walking, the muscles of the lower limbs strengthen their activity, rhythmically squeezing the veins, promoting blood circulation and allowing it to return to the heart quickly, which can reduce the possibility of arteriosclerosis. Experts point out: "A brisk 20-minute walk can increase your heart rate by 70%, which is exactly the same effect as jogging." For the brain, no matter what age you are, walking can keep your mind active and even improve your reasoning ability. Experts say walking is like a magic pill that slows brain aging and reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease. "It is even more effective if you invite your family or a few friends to take a walk together. If you talk while walking, it can enhance your brain's ability."

In addition to being good for the heart and brain, walking is also a good way to protect the stomach, intestines and lungs. Sitting for a long time will restrict the expansion of the lungs to a certain extent, affecting the depth of breathing. When walking, the lung ventilation volume more than doubles compared to usual, which is beneficial to improving the function of the respiratory system. Once the body becomes less active, gastrointestinal function will weaken, which can easily cause indigestion and constipation. When taking a walk after a meal, the movement of the abdominal muscles can effectively massage the gastrointestinal tract and improve its digestion and absorption ability. In addition, walking is also very helpful in relieving stress. Experts say: "Brisk walking until you feel slightly tired is an ideal sedative for treating emotional tension."

"Walking a hundred steps" should be "walking in swing steps"

"The real 'hundred-step walk' should be 'swinging walk', not a forced march or exercise-style walk, but swinging your arms and strolling leisurely and slowly." Experts say that the "hundred-step walk after a meal" is most suitable for those who work at a desk for a long time, are overweight or have excessive stomach acid. Just walking for 20 minutes can promote gastrointestinal motility, secretion of digestive juices and digestion and absorption of food. If you do the following, you can get twice the result with half the effort:

Don't move right after a meal.

"After clearing the table, washing the dishes, and finishing the work at hand, wait for ten minutes or so before going out for a walk. This is just the right amount of time." Experts suggest that if you take a walk immediately after a meal, some of the blood will be concentrated in the motor system, which will delay the secretion of digestive juices, affect the normal digestion of the stomach, and easily induce functional indigestion.

Don't take a walk 2 hours before bedtime.

Experts say that it is better to take a walk between 7 and 9 p.m., because if it is too late, the oxygen will become thin, and if it is too early, there will be too many people on the streets and the air will be polluted. Experts point out that when your body temperature rises while walking, your brain will receive a signal to lower your body temperature. Lowering your body temperature makes people relax, thus promoting sleep. But if you take a walk two hours before going to bed, it is too late to cool down your body and will affect your sleep.

Take a walk against the wind and return with the wind.

If it is windy outside, start your walk against the wind and then return with the wind. This will help you avoid catching a cold due to sweating while walking.

Go uphill first, then downhill .

It is best to start your walk by walking uphill, with your chest up and your head raised, which is good for exercising your waist and knees. When returning, walk downhill, using inertia to move your whole body rhythmically to help relax your whole body.

Add some small actions.

Studies have shown that swinging your arms while walking helps blood circulation and strengthens the heart, which is one of the reasons why band conductors live longer. Especially for people with respiratory diseases, swinging their arms rhythmically back and forth while walking can help them recover their health.

Note: Not suitable for patients with gastroptosis or hypertension. In addition, there are several types of people who are not suitable for taking a walk immediately after a meal: people with coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, cerebral arteriosclerosis, diabetes, chronic active gastritis, peptic ulcer, anemia, and low blood pressure.