14 DAY TRIAL // A recent study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology shows that exercising even after having a huge serving rich in fats is very beneficial for the arteries. Moreover, researchers found that the condition of the arteries after eating and exercising is better than before the meal. Physical activity reverse the arterial dysfunction caused by the same rich in fats foods, report experts at the Indiana University.
After eating a meal overloaded with fats, the arteries become less elastic and cannot stretch at full capacity. This dysfunction in the arteries is caused by the fact that fat foods intake leads to an increase in blood flow. However, exercising after eating is much recommended for making arteries regain their ability to expand and stretch.
"What happens four hours after that high-fat meal is that your artery looks just like the arteries of a person who has heart disease. What our study showed is that when you exercise after that meal, it doesn't look like a sick artery anymore," explained Janet P. Wallace, co-author of the study. Arterial disorders may lead to a negative outcome of severe conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
"The impairment of endothelial function after a fatty meal is a key factor in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of illness and death in Western society. Results from this study suggest that physical activity may be effective in reversing the adverse vascular effects observed following the consumption of a high-fat meal," pointed out lead author of the study Jaume Padilla.
Vascular endothelial function refers to the ability of blood vessels to expand in order to let the blood flow through them. Fats in meals cause the arteries to become harmed by oxidative markers which may further become a leading cause for cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes or heart disease. This is why it is important to exercise after having a rich in fats and calories serving - not immediately, but after an hour or two.