Reduce Stress-Related Cravings for Unhealthy Foods With a 15-Minute Walk
When you’re under stress, junk food is even more tempting than usual . Recent research has shown that taking a short walk right after the urge arises can help you keep the situation under control, even if the treat is right in front of you.
Research led by Larisa Ledochowski of the University of Innsbruck in Austria and Adrian H. Taylor of the University of Plymouth in the UK and published in the journal PLOS ONE suggests that a little basic exercise can drastically reduce the chances of you reaching a candy bar. Study participants – all identified as being overweight – engaged in stressful activities after three days of abstaining from sugary snacks. Half of them were asked to take a 15-minute brisk walk before engaging in stressful activities. The other half did not engage in such activities, and then both groups were asked to take unpackaged sugary snacks with them and try to resist them.
The results of Ledochowski and Taylor showed that people who walked in advance were much less likely to consume unhealthy foods. If you’re feeling stressed and the sweet tooth is getting too strong, a walk can help. You distract from snacking, relieve and prevent stress with a little exercise, and a walk is always good for you anyway .
Acute Effects of Brisk Walking on Sweet Snack Cravings in Overweight People, Effect and Response to Stress and Response to Sweet Snacks: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLOS ONE Magazine via Pacific Standard