Is a night walk better than a morning walk? | TheHealthSite.com (2024)

Always wondered when is the good time to go for a walk? We tell you now.

Everyone knows the benefits of walking; it aids weight loss, boosts cardiovascular health, improves blood circulation, bone density, lowers cholesterol levels and the list is endless. However, did you know that the time of the day you go for a walk in also makes a difference in your health? Though marginally, but night walks could be more beneficial than morning walks, suggest experts.

How are night walks better than morning walks?

Taking walks regularly, whether at morning or night is a healthy habit. However, night walks have an edge over morning walks. Even a 15 minutes walk after dinner could aid digestion and help lose belly fat efficiently, says Dr Akshat Chadha, Hope and Care Clinic, Navi Mumbai. This is because, Indian foods are rich in carbohydrate and fat, the spices and condiments added generously are more responsible for the pot-belly among most of us. So having a full course dinner and going straight to bed is dangerously bad for your health, especially the belly. Remember, increased belly fat also increases your chances of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other lifestyle disorders, says Dr Chadha. Read to know how climbing stairs is better than brisk walking for weight loss.

How does a night walk help?

• It aids digestion and helps to burn more calories, which in turn ensures that you lose the fat from your belly soon. Here are six ways to lose belly fat fast.
• It helps control cholesterol levels. The good cholesterol or HDL can only increase through exercising and walking. There are very less food items that help increase good cholesterol levels. So a walk after dinner, especially if you are not a morning person, will help you control cholesterol, says Dr Chadha. Here are eight natural cholesterol busters your should know about.
• It controls belly fat and leads to less fat deposition on the belly and other parts of the body.
• It improves bone density and muscular strength. Here are few things that affect your bone health adversely.
• It eases lower back pain and controls depression.
• It boosts blood circulation.
• It helps control various lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension, muscle fatigue, etc.

So, should you stop taking morning walks completely?

No. You cannot ignore the benefits of early morning walks completely. A dose of vitamin D, fresh air and early morning sun are all good for you. What time of the day you would like to go for a walk is a personal choice. But make it a point to walk at least for an hour each day. Morning walks are more preferred by elderly who find it difficult to do it at the end of the day. On the other hand, for the younger generation who find it difficult to squeeze in time for a walk in the morning, a night walk seems promising, says Dr Chadha. Know how walking 100 steps after dinner aids weight loss.

How to prepare for a night walk?

Here are a few things you need to keep in mind while taking night walk:

• Avoid taking walk right after your dinner. Your digestive system needs more blood to aid the process of digestion. Going out immediately after dinner would make the blood go to other organs that might make you feel dizzy. Go for a walk at least 20 minutes after having dinner, says Dr Chadha.
• Wear your walking shoes. Don't go out in your flip-flops, instead wear the right walking gear so that you can reap the benefits of the walk, says Dr Chadha.
• Walk briskly. Night walk doesn t mean a stroll out in the park. Do it in a serious note as you would do while walking in the morning.
• Don't eat ice-cream. Just because you are out and your dinner is over, it doesn t mean you can have a dessert during a night walk. Remember, it is a serious form of exercise and be committed towards it, advises Dr Chadha.
• Be regular with your walks. If you are a beginner, make a slow start but be consistent. Try with a 15 to 30 minutes of walk for the initial days and then gradually increase your time and pace. However, don't try to exert yourself. The idea is to warm up your body, not to push it to extreme level of breathlessness.

Note: Many people think that a night walk can disturb your sleep cycle. However, this isn't true. In fact, it can help to induce sleep if done in a proper manner. If you still think that night walk is disrupting your sleep cycle, stop it for a while and look for other form of exercises that suit your body and lifestyle.

Image courtesy: Getty Images

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