Post-meal ‘fart walks’ help curb blood sugar spikes and support gut health [Health Talk]
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- 2026-01-12 05:00:00
- Updated
- 2026-01-12 05:00:00
[The Financial News] A new health trend known as the "gas-relief walk" (also called a "fart walk") is gaining attention for helping to prevent sharp post-meal blood sugar spikes and improve gut health. This lifestyle habit involves light walking after eating to aid digestion and support blood sugar control.
The gas-relief walk was first proposed by a cooking influencer in Toronto, Canada, and refers to walking for about 10 minutes after a meal to help release gas from the body.
Movement of the abdomen and pelvis during walking helps release gas and ease bloating
As you walk, the motion of the abdomen and pelvis stimulates intestinal peristalsis, which promotes gas release and relieves abdominal bloating. If gas produced during digestion is not expelled, Firmicutes—gut bacteria associated with obesity—can proliferate, potentially making it easier to gain weight. Light walking is reported to be effective in suppressing this process.
Walking also prompts muscles to use glucose as an energy source, helping to prevent a rapid surge in blood sugar after meals. A research team at the University of Otago in New Zealand has reported that light post-meal walking provides a meaningful benefit in lowering blood sugar levels.
"Promotes the production of feel-good chemicals such as serotonin"
Taking a walk outdoors can also have a positive impact on mental health. Chun Tang, a doctor at Pall Mall Medical in the United Kingdom, explained, “Walking outside promotes the production of feel-good chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin, which can improve sleep quality and support better mental health.”
To put it into practice, it is recommended to walk around your neighborhood or in a nearby park about 30 minutes to an hour after eating. Christopher Damon, a gastroenterologist at the University of Washington Medical Center in the United States, noted, “About 60 minutes after a meal, glucose absorption in the body reaches its peak,” adding, “Moving your body at that time is particularly effective for controlling post-meal blood sugar levels.” A walking duration of roughly 10 to 15 minutes is generally recommended.
hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter