Forget 10,000 steps: The overlooked 'fart walking' habit could do more for your body and boost metabolism
Fart walking involves going for a walk after a meal to reduce bloating and gas and aid digestion. Here's why it could be as beneficial as your step count.
Fart walking, a relatively unknown trend, might actually be beneficial for your body and metabolism. This practice involves taking a short walk after a meal to aid digestion and balance blood sugar levels. While the trend has faded from popularity, its advantages should not be dismissed. Walking, in general, has been shown to reduce sedentary time, improve resting metabolism, and lower the risk of chronic diseases.
Recent research suggests that even 7,000 steps can be beneficial, making fart walking a potentially valuable addition to any daily routine.
The concept behind fart walking is to engage in light movement after eating, which can stimulate peristalsis, the muscle contractions responsible for moving gas and food through the digestive tract. Additionally, gentle movement has been shown to boost mood and relaxation, both of which can contribute to better digestive health. Stress is known to harm the gut, so managing stress through light movement can be advantageous.
Diabetes UK even recommends incorporating walking into daily activities to help maintain balanced blood sugar levels. By keeping glucose in check, we can promote metabolic health over the long term. Personally, I find a walk after dinner to be an ideal way to transition from work mode to relaxation, especially when combined with activities like walking a dog.
For those with desk jobs, fart walking provides a simple way to break up prolonged sitting, clock in steps, and burn energy throughout the day. Moreover, engaging in light movement outdoors, particularly in nature, can be particularly beneficial for managing stress and anxiety. Studies suggest that natural environments help shift the body into the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting a state of calm and rest.
The gut-brain axis, involving the vagus nerve, plays a crucial role in this process, and managing stress can positively impact gut health. To start, aim for short walks within 60 minutes of finishing a meal, gradually increasing the duration and pace as desired.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.