According to a study featured on ScienceDaily.com, 15 minutes of moderate walking after eating may help older adults lower their risk of type 2 diabetes.

Researchers from the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS) asked 10 older adults aged 60 and above, who were healthy but were at risk for diabetes, to do simple exercises.

Some of the participants were asked to walk for 45 minutes on a treadmill either at 10:30 A.M. or at 4:30 P.M., while others were asked to do 15 minutes on the machine after each meal.

The results showed that walking for 15 minutes after lunch and dinner was more effective at controlling blood sugar levels and reducing risk of type 2 diabetes. The researchers also found out that the best time to do a post-meal walk was after dinner.

"These findings are good news for people in their 70s and 80s who may feel more capable of engaging in intermittent physical activity on a daily basis, especially if the short walks can be combined with running errands or walking the dog," explains lead study author Loretta DiPietro.

Researchers note that the worst thing you can do after a big meal is to take a nap. "Let the food digest a bit then get out and move," DiPietro concludes.

(Photo by davidd via Flickr Creative Commons)