The One Thing You Should Never, Ever Do in the Hour After Eating Lunch, According to a Cardiologist
No matter what your health goals are, you likely start each day with the best of intentions. You have a healthy breakfast, full of fiber and protein. You enjoy a cup of coffee, which is known to support both brain and heart health. Maybe you even go for a walk or get a workout in. But by the time afternoon hits, it's easy for healthy habits to fall by the wayside. There's too much to do and not enough time, which can lead to doing (and eating) what's most convenient, even if it isn't healthy. And there's one common afternoon habit, in particular, that a cardiologist wishes people wouldn't do because it's detrimental to heart health. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊
You're likely familiar with the afternoon slump. Typically, it happens about an hour after eating lunch. Blood sugar drops and tiredness sets in, making it hard to get through the rest of the day. To overcome it, many people turn to an energy drink. But Dr. Bhavna Suri, MD, a cardiologist with Manhattan Cardiology and contributor to LabFinder, wishes this habit would be left behind.Dr. Suri explains that energy drinks can negatively impact heart health. 'Drinking these substances in excess sometimes speeds up our heart rate too much, or can cause some extra heartbeats, called ectopy,' she says, explaining that when this happens, it can lead to palpitations or a feeling of fluttering in the chest.Related: I'm a Cardiologist, and This 'Relaxing' Habit Is Actually Harming Your Heart Health
Scientific research backs this up, showing that too much caffeine puts stress on the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of arrhythmia. Other studies show that drinking energy drinks can cause blood pressure to go up. Drinking soda isn't any better. Scientific research shows that regularly drinking soda increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, the same is true of diet soda. Another reason why Dr. Suri warns against using energy drinks to overcome an afternoon slump is because they can get in the way of getting a good night's sleep. Scientific research shows that not getting enough sleep on a regular basis increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Related:
Okay, so energy drinks and soda are out. What is a more heart-healthy way to get through the afternoon? Dr. Suri recommends taking a walk after lunch and getting some sunshine to help wake the body up. 'Incorporating a 15-minute walk [into your afternoon] can get blood circulating and can be good for your blood pressure and energy levels,' she says. Instead of downing an energy drink that can lead to heart palpitations, you'll be doing something that a wealth of scientific research has shown reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.Related:
Dr. Suri says that there's a way to craft your lunch in a way that will make experiencing an afternoon slump less likely. 'Having a protein-rich meal as opposed to high carbohydrates at lunch can improve energy levels,' she says. This is because simple carbs (like bread, chips, soda and pastries) increase blood sugar levels and then cause them to drop, which leads to a decrease in energy levels. But protein-based foods like chicken, tofu, beans and chickpeas don't spike blood sugar, which will keep energy levels more steady.
Building an after-lunch walk into your daily routine is a way to keep your healthy habits going throughout the afternoon. By making a conscious effort to support your health in the morning and afternoon, you'll be more likely to keep it up in the evening too. Soon, your afternoon walk will become such an integral part of your routine that it will become automatic. And that's bound to benefit your heart both now and in the future.
Up Next:Dr. Bhavna Suri, MD, a cardiologist with Manhattan Cardiology and contributor to LabFinder
Effects of coffee/caffeine on brain health and disease: What should I tell my patients? Practical Neurology. 2016
Impact of Coffee Consumption on Cardiovascular Health. The Ochsner Journal. 2023
Effects of energy drinks on the cardiovascular system. World Journal of Cardiology. 2017
Energy Drink Consumption: Beneficial and Adverse Health Effects. International Journal of Health Sciences. 2015
The Impacts of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) on Cardiovascular Health. Cureus. 2022
Diet Soft Drink Consumption is Associated with an Increased Risk of Vascular Events in the Northern Manhattan Study. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2012
Sleep Duration as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease — a Review of the Recent Literature.Current Cardiovascular Reviews. 2010
Walking — the first steps in cardiovascular disease prevention.Current Opinion in Cardiology. 2011
The One Thing You Should Never, Ever Do in the Hour After Eating Lunch, According to a Cardiologist first appeared on Parade on Jul 8, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
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