Does “farting” contribute to healthy aging?

Walking is one of the easiest ways you can get the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week to keep your heart healthy and your bones strong. As we age, walking for 30 minutes a day is especially important to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure. Staying active through exercise such as walking can help you become more independent later in life.

Self-proclaimed "fiber queen" Mairlyn Smith says taking a walk after a meal can also reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes Tik Tok. She coined the term "fart walk" because if you get enough fiber in your diet, you might notice someone farting. However, farts have more meaning. "Walking helps maintain blood sugar levels and prevents them from fluctuating all over the place," she says.

It turns out there’s a bit of science behind farting. according to University of Washington Medicinetaking a walk after a meal can stimulate the intestines and help improve digestion. You may notice a reduction in bloating and acid reflux. According to one study, exercising after a meal can control blood sugar spikes better than exercising before a meal or not exercising at all. 2023 meta-analysis in the field of sports medicine. Farting every night may actually lower your risk of type 2 diabetes.

The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases with age, with the likelihood of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes increasing five times after the age of 45, says Online MD. Gaining weight, eating too many processed foods, and not getting enough exercise can all increase your risk. As you age, your body becomes less efficient at releasing insulin to control blood sugar after a meal. Combine that with more belly fat and less muscle, and your body becomes more susceptible to insulin resistance, according to one study. 2017 Articles In Menopause Review.

this American Diabetes Association Exercise like walking is said to force your cells to use glucose in your blood to fuel your muscles. Exercise also improves your insulin sensitivity, which means your body can better use insulin to regulate blood sugar during and after exercise.

According to one study, walking for 15 minutes after each meal is enough to lower blood sugar in people over 60 years old. Study in 2013 in Diabetes Care. While a 45-minute walk in the morning or afternoon can help control blood sugar, a 15-minute walk after a meal is better for overall blood sugar regulation.

While a light walk after a meal can help control blood sugar, some of the benefits of walking for healthy aging may surprise you. according to a 2023 review In GeroScience, exercise can improve your mood, creativity and mental health as you age. Exercise also improves the function of endothelial cells (the cells lining blood vessels). As we age, these endothelial cells lose their ability to regulate blood pressure and prevent blood clots. Exercise increases blood flow and releases nitric oxide (NO) to relieve blood pressure.

Taking a walk after a meal can add to your exercise routine to protect you against dementia. one Study in 2022 A JAMA Neurology study followed more than 78,000 older adults for seven years and found that walking 3,800 steps a day reduced the risk of dementia by 25%. If you aim to take 10,000 steps a day, you can cut your risk of dementia in half. If you can walk 112 steps per minute, your risk of dementia is reduced by 62%.