Have you ever wondered if your post-meal habits could be essential to healthy living? You may have heard a lot from your parents or friends about what to do or not to do after a meal. But who really believe? Here are the things you should not do after eating, according to science.
Our eating habits are at the root of many evils. Indeed, some of our habits can be at the origin of a greater risk of obesity, digestive disorders or even cerebrovascular accidents. It is therefore necessary to be attentive to our food but also to what we do after eating. To help you do this, here are the things you can not do after eating:
To sleep
Napping is what most people think after a hearty meal. However, sleeping after a large meal causes bloating, acid reflux and discomfort.
According to a study at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ioannina in Greece, it would be best if people wait at least 30 minutes before going to bed after a meal. In this way, they will reduce the risk of having a stroke. The study also found that for every 20 minutes waiting before sleeping after a meal, the risk of stroke decreases by another 10%.
Drink tea
It is common that people consume tea or coffee after a meal, however, these drinks contain tannins, that is to say polyphenolic molecules that inhibit the action of certain digestive enzymes allowing the absorption of iron by the body. According to a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, tea contains phenolic compounds that inhibit the absorption of iron in the body. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink tea immediately after meals.
To eat fruits
In terms of fruit, it is essential to know the amount of fructose they contain. According to Melina Jampolis, a physician, nutrition specialist and past president of the National Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists in the US, in a CNN article, fruits contain almost three times more calories than vegetables. Thus, eating more than 100 grams per day of fruit, especially for dessert after each meal, can lead to significant weight gain in the long term.
Smoke
Provoked by tobacco addiction, smoking after eating is at the root of many ailments. According to a study on the effects of smoking on the gastric emptying process, post-meal smoking increases the rate at which food is broken down (and thus the way nutrients are absorbed), which can increase the risk of smoking. ulcer and slow down the healing process.
Physical exercise
Your body needs time to digest food before you can exercise. If you exercise just after eating a large meal, your digestive process will be disrupted, which can cause nausea and stomach upset. Wait at least a few hours after each meal before going to the gym.
