To maintain excellent health, one must be disciplined about eating times and behaviours. Improper digestion may cause a variety of health problems, which is why understanding what to eat and eating thoughtfully — while also being conscious of how much to consume — is critical.
According to an expert, an online nutrition and fitness platform, knowing certain dos and don’ts before and after a meal is also vital for meeting dietary objectives.
“Mistakes are widespread, and one may not realise they are dangerous habits.” “Many people have a set of established dietary patterns, but now is the moment to relearn those bad practices,” she explains.
The following items should be avoided after eating, according to the expert; continue reading.
- Avoid having a shower just after eating since blood surrounds the stomach to aid digestion, and bathing causes the body temperature to shift. To return the body to its natural temperature, blood flows from the stomach surface to the skin, causing poor and sluggish digestion.
- Exercise should be avoided immediately after a meal since it might affect digestion. It can induce nausea, stomach/abdominal discomfort, and vomiting, resulting in acid reflux.
- Avoid sleeping or napping: The desire to lie down after eating is extremely typical. This causes digestive secretions to come to the surface, resulting in acute heartburn; a person may wake up feeling full after eating.
- Avoid drinking a lot of water since it slows down digestion. Excessive water consumption dilutes stomach acid and hinders digestion. Most Indian meals have ample fluid in the form of gravies, dals, sambhar, chaas, and other dishes. The salads are very rich in water content.
- Avoid tasks that require leaning forward since they might trigger acid reflux.
- Consuming fruits after a meal might impair the absorption of nutrients from the fruit.
- Avoid drinking tea or coffee because they contain phenolic chemicals that interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients, such as iron, from food.
- Avoid consuming alcohol or smoking: While both are damaging to the body, doing so after a meal raises health concerns.
According to the expert, the following activities can be done after a meal:
Maintaining mobility while avoiding strenuous activity. It is critical to remain active, but not overly so.
