How Long After Eating Can I Run (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 1 Hour To 2 Hours

Running after eating a meal should always be avoided because it has many worse effects on the body. The major reason why it is good and even recommended not to run immediately after having a meal is because when our body digests food, then it is time for muscles to work for digestion of the food. At this time, all the muscles prepare themselves to take up the nutrition and energy released from the food.

However, if a person does heavy exercises or most importantly starts running immediately after having the meal, then the muscles get involved in making the body either do those physical exercises or run. As a result, the muscles fail to take up the nutrition and energy released from the food. Because of the improper nutrition supplied to the muscles, they become less efficient and are unable to perform their functions properly.

How Long After Eating Can I Run?

Considering ideal conditions and breaking down how much an average person can eat so that he or she feels full, the amount of food that can be consumed is into three major categories, that are, snacks, light breakfast, and a full meal.

If a person has consumed snacks, then it takes the least time for a person to avoid running after having snacks. To be calculative, then if you intake any food which ranges somewhere between a calorie measure of 200 to 300 calories, you can consider it to be a snack.

In most cases, when referring to a snack, it is considered to be crackers, bars, nuts, and other such snacks. In this case, it would take about a minimum of to a maximum of 1 hour on average for you to run after eating.

If a person has consumed a light breakfast, then it takes more time as compared to the time it would for a person to avoid running after having snacks. To be calculative, then if you intake any food which ranges somewhere between a calorie measure of 500 to 1000 calories, you can consider it to be a light breakfast.

In most cases, when referring to a light breakfast, it is considered to be bread, sandwiches, cereals, oats, pancakes, and other such meals. In this case, it would take about a minimum of 1 hour to a maximum of 2 hours on average for you to run after eating.

If a person has consumed a full meal, then it takes the maximum amount of time it would for a person to avoid running after having snacks. To be calculative, then if you intake any food which ranges somewhere between a calorie measure of 1000 to 4000 calories or even above, you can consider it to be a full meal.

In most cases, when referring to a full meal, it is considered to be chicken, smoothies, and other such meals. In this case, it would take about a minimum of 3 hours to a maximum of 4 hours on average for you to run after eating.

Why Does It Take That Long For Me To Run After Eating?

Due to certain reasons which are unhealthy for our body, it is recommended to avoid running immediately after having food for a certain duration. However, the time for which a person should avoid running depends upon many factors, such as what type of running or physical exercises the person is doing after having food, what kind of food the person has had before running, how experienced the person is at running and other such factors.

However, among all these factors, there is one major factor that should be always put under consideration while calculating the time for how long a person should avoid running after having food. The major time determining factor is the amount of food consumed.

Conclusion

If a person runs immediately after having food, it can result in multiple digestive problems and short-term health effects as well. Some of the major persistent issues which a person faces if he or she runs immediately after having food are nausea, vomiting, stomachache, dehydration, and constipation as well.

References

1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10671188.1965.10614688
2. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10671188.1964.10613304