It’s tempting to flop on the couch after dinner, when your belly is full and you’re exhausted from the daily grind. But instead of mindlessly browsing your phone or watching TV, it’s worth lacing up your shoes and taking a walk.
A night walk is a common ritual in the Mediterranean. Credit:chubby
That is what the English writer Annabel Streets, author of 52 ways to walk, believe. While Annabel notes that Australians seem to be more of a “morning walker” bunch, she says that the culture of strolling at night is very much alive in the Mediterranean.
On a recent visit to Greece, she was delighted to see throngs of people on the move at sunset. “You go out and everyone is walking,” she says. “They will do this for an hour, two hours, sometimes three hours.”
The Italians have a name for this beautiful and languid ride: the passeggiata. It is a tradition that they partake in in the late afternoon or early evening and is a social event where friends and family get together to chew on the fat and enjoy their surroundings.
For the past five years, Annabel has largely embraced this Mediterranean attitude, going for a walk almost every night after dinner. It’s not a long or strenuous activity, ranging from a 10-minute meander to a leisurely half-hour ride.
Charging
Regardless of how long you walk, Streets says there are plenty of benefits. First, it’s good for you physically. In his book, he cites a study from the journal Intestine who found that the “transit time” of food passing through the gastrointestinal system is dramatically sped up by moderate exercise.
“In other words,” he writes, “exercise helps keep everything moving, reducing our risk of constipation.”
Walking after dinner also helps to stop the excesses. “Instead of sitting at the table and just nibbling, nibbling, nibbling, or refilling your wine glass, it keeps you away from overeating and overdrinking,” she says.
