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Particularly after lunch, I feel a bit sleepy and I love to take a nap. But many of my friends insist that I take a bit of a walk after my lunch. They recommend it as a healthy habit that helps with digestion.

Is it true? Could anyone point me to some sources that prove or disprove this?

Sklivvz
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rpattabi
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  • **Please Note**. References are not optional on answers on this site. Answers which are not fact based may well be deleted even if up voted. – Sklivvz Oct 05 '12 at 19:26

1 Answers1

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a walk after my lunch [is] a healthy habit that helps with digestion.

Walking may be a healthy habit but it does not specifically assist digestion.

Digestion is a process which takes place in resting conditions. Exercise is characterised by a shift in blood flow away from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract towards the active muscle and the lungs.

From: Is the gut an athletic organ? Digestion, absorption, and exercise. [Sports Med. 1993] - PubMed - NCBI

Bill the Lizard
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RedGrittyBrick
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  • This answer pertaining to the redirection of blood away from the stomach/GI is most important in documenting the anti-digestive action of movement. – New Alexandria Oct 07 '12 at 18:40
  • Excellent. Thank you! I think now I can take a nap after food without any guilt. :--) – rpattabi Oct 08 '12 at 13:37