Man is iron, rice is steel. Skip a meal, and you'll feel the pangs. Many think they can make up for it by eating more at the next meal. But in reality, skipping even one meal has adverse effects on the body, and if it becomes a habit, it can lead to more serious health consequences.
Why shouldn't you talk while eating?
There are several downsides to talking during a meal.
First, it makes the food tasteless. When you talk while eating, your focus shifts to the conversation, not the food. Eating becomes a mechanical action, and you not only fail to enjoy the flavors but can also affect your appetite.
Second, it slows down your eating. If everyone else is eating quietly and you're the only one talking, you'll inevitably eat slower. The result is that everyone else finishes and then either watches you in silence or plays on their phone while they wait.
Third, it affects digestion. Some people, who talk a lot at the beginning of a meal, eat slowly. When they see everyone else is almost done, they try to catch up by speeding up their eating. This wolfing down of food can easily disrupt digestion and burden your stomach.
Fourth, it affects your image. Not talking while eating is a sign of respect for the food and for others. If you speak before you've swallowed a mouthful, you might spray food particles, which is an embarrassing situation best avoided.
Fifth, it can cause you to choke. At the back of your throat is a piece of cartilage called the epiglottis. When you eat, it covers your windpipe. Food slides down your throat into your esophagus. If you speak at this moment, the epiglottis opens, and food can enter your windpipe, causing you to choke, triggering a violent cough, and sometimes even leading to nausea.
So, focus on your meal, don't get distracted, and save your conversation for after you eat.
But that's not all. In fact, there are many other things you shouldn't do while eating.
6 Things Not to Do While Eating
1. Don't use your phone
Using your phone while eating has similar downsides to talking. The direct consequence is that it prolongs your meal, and cold food affects its taste. All in all, it's not a pleasant experience. On a cold winter day, eating cold food will not make your stomach happy.
2. Don't eat too fast
No matter how hungry you are, slow down. Of course, that doesn't mean you have to be as slow as a turtle. Eating too fast reduces the absorption rate of nutrients, and you might burn your mouth on hot food.
Besides, your brain's satiety center takes time to register fullness. If you've eaten a large portion before it signals, you'll likely overeat. Eating too much without exercise can easily lead to weight gain.
It's better to chew your food slowly, which aids digestion and allows you to fully appreciate the flavors.
3. Don't eat too much
Whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you shouldn't eat until you're stuffed. Overeating is uncomfortable. Moreover, uncontrolled eating keeps our digestive system, like the stomach and intestines, in a constant state of tension. The previous meal hasn't been digested yet, and the next one is already filling the stomach. Our digestive system needs regular rest to function properly.
It's recommended to eat until you're 70% full. This way, you won't feel hungry, nor will you feel uncomfortably full. It also allows your body to digest and absorb nutrients better, helping to prevent obesity.
4. Don't serve food from your own plate to others
Sometimes, to show hospitality, a host will serve food from their own plate to a guest's bowl to let them taste their cooking. If you're a bit of a germaphobe like Xiao Jiu, you might roll your eyes internally.
Using chopsticks that have been in your mouth to serve others is unhygienic, as bacteria can be spread this way. The host really shouldn't have issues like a stomach illness or a Helicobacter pylori infection, otherwise, they could be harming their guests.
Also, even when eating at home, try not to use your own chopsticks to serve food from shared dishes, as you can't be sure they're free of saliva. It's best to use a separate pair of serving chopsticks. It might be a bit more trouble, but it's more hygienic.
5. Don't be a picky eater
Picky eating is a very bad habit, yet many children and even adults are guilty of it. Excluding allergies, there are no valid reasons for it. If you're picky, it's your taste, not the food's fault.
Xiao Jiu has a cousin who is a champion picky eater. If a meal doesn't include a dish she likes, she will refuse to eat it, no matter how much she is persuaded. But if there's a dish she loves, she'll try to scrape the plate clean. This cycle of feasting and famine not only leads to nutritional imbalances and affects development but can also cause gastrointestinal issues and other diseases related to nutrient deficiencies.
6. Don't skip any meal
Man is iron, rice is steel. Skip a meal, and you'll feel the pangs. Many think they can make up for it by eating more at the next meal. But in reality, skipping even one meal has adverse effects on the body, and if it becomes a habit, it can lead to more serious health consequences, such as mood swings, reduced concentration, stomach problems, and overeating leading to weight gain.
No matter how busy you are, you should make time to have a proper meal. That way, you'll have the energy to get your work done.