You need to do just one thing

According to Dr Joseph Salhab, who goes by @thestomachdoc on social media, the moments just after eating could prove vital, and he has explained why in a viral video on TikTok.

Dr Salhab says that the one thing you should actually do immediately after eating is get up and walk.

“After you're done eating, I don't want you to sit down, I don't want you to lie down, and I definitely don't want you to start scrolling on your phone”. he warned.

“What I want you to do instead is take a 10-minute walk.”

This routine, Salhab says, is “one of the most powerful things you can do to improve your gut health”.

This is because gentle walking is said to stimulate digestion by helping clear excess food and stomach acid, while it can also lead to less acid reflux and heartburn.

The walk “stimulates your intestines to move” which reduces bloating, eases digestion, and “helps move old food and old waste products along in your colon, which can help stimulate a bowel movement”.

Science backs this too, as a number of health experts say walking after eating helps the digestive system through stimulating peristalsis, the muscle contractions that move food through the gut.

“Walking after eating helps stimulate your digestive muscles, helping food move through your stomach and intestines more effectively”, a nutrition specialist told Healthline.

This is because it can relieve uncomfortable gas and bloating by helping trapped air escape naturally.

It can improve blood sugar control too, medical evidence suggests.

As per a 2016 study, light-walking for just 10 minutes after each meal was more effective at managing post-meal glucose levels than a single 30-minute walk later in the day, which can be particularly beneficial for those with type 2 diabetes.

The doctor added on TikTok that “this is a quick, easy, and completely free thing to do, and it’s something that I tell all my patients to do as well”.