Need to pass gas after eating? How taking a short walk boosts digestion
‘If you take 100 steps after each meal, you’ll live to 99,’ an ancient Chinese proverb says. Here is why a post-meal walk is so beneficial
The holiday season is upon us with its late nights, parties and almost always too much to eat and drink. While we might wait until the New Year to worry about the weight that is piling on, a more immediate concern after consuming so much rich food and alcohol is bloating and its inevitable relief: passing wind.
Overeating overloads your gut, trapping gas from food breakdown and swallowed air; alcohol slows digestion further. Big meals stretch the stomach, which slows down the speed at which it can empty.
That means food has time to ferment, which feeds bacteria that produce gas. And that is why we release it in an explosion of wind and, usually, a foul smell.
Too much of any carbonated drink, such as beer or champagne, makes it worse because of the bubbles: you are adding bottled gas to the bloat. Because alcohol relaxes gut muscles, digestion slows. A high sugar content adds to the fermentation.
Stepping outside for a short post-meal walk is a beneficial solution: it allows you to let a stinker slip without embarrassment.