I often see a colleague who always has fruit ready and starts eating it right after lunch, saying it aids digestion and cuts through the greasiness. Out of curiosity, I looked it up and found out that you shouldn't eat fruit, drink tea, or exercise immediately after a meal...
How long after eating can you exercise? Post-meal health care only takes 30 minutes
Besides providing energy, our three daily meals are also a prerequisite for maintaining good health. In addition to choosing nutritious and delicious food, it's also important to pay attention to taboos during and after meals to avoid affecting your health.
I. During the meal
Sit up straight
Many people see eating as a way to relax and de-stress, so they slouch, causing their back to hunch. In fact, this is when you should sit up straight, because when you hunch, your stomach and esophagus are compressed, affecting digestion. It's especially important not to squat while eating, as this compresses the abdomen, affecting the blood circulation of the digestive tract, and over time can lead to stomach problems and impact cardiopulmonary function.
The environment should be quiet
Some people like to listen to music or watch TV while eating, as it feels more relaxing. However, studies show that the louder the noise, the lower a person's sense of taste, making it hard to appreciate the food, while a quiet environment allows diners to enjoy their food more.
Don't discuss heavy topics
When people are unhappy, their appetite often decreases, and it can also affect digestion. So, don't talk about heavy topics during meals, as it affects both physical and mental health.
Chew slowly
Many studies have shown that chewing more than 30 times per bite not only aids digestion but also helps with weight loss.
II. After the meal
Eating fruit
After food enters the stomach, it takes time to digest. At this point, the stomach is still full. If you eat fruit immediately, it slows down stomach digestion and can cause it to pile up, leading to constipation. Therefore, it's best to eat fruit half an hour after a meal.
Exercise
Exercising immediately after a meal diverts the body's energy to various parts, causing blood circulation to deviate from the digestive system and affecting the absorption of nutrients. Therefore, it's best to wait half an hour after a meal to exercise (limited to light exercise).
Drinking strong tea
Many middle-aged and elderly people are accustomed to drinking a cup of strong tea after a meal, which can easily lead to stomach problems. Tannic acid in tea can turn protein in food into indigestible, coagulated substances, burdening the gastrointestinal tract.
Sleeping
Many modern office workers get off work late and go straight to bed after dinner. This reduces the oxygen supply to the brain, easily causing heartburn, indigestion, and weight gain. Also, you shouldn't nap immediately after a meal, as it affects the digestive function of the stomach and intestines. It's best to be active for 10 minutes before sleeping.
Bathing
Bathing immediately after a meal increases blood flow to the body's surface, which correspondingly reduces the blood supply to the gastrointestinal tract, weakening digestive function and causing indigestion.
Sexual activity
For male friends, the penis needs extensive blood flow during sex to maintain a firm and lasting erection. However, after a heavy meal, the body's blood supply is concentrated in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing blood flow to other areas, which can hinder an erection and affect the satisfaction of sexual life.