In our daily lives, we often drink various beverages, but some can be harmful to your health when consumed on an empty stomach. Do you know which drinks you shouldn't have on an empty stomach? Traditional Chinese Medicine reminds us that 4 major drinks should absolutely not be consumed on an empty stomach!
Coffee
Coffee is a very familiar beverage for office workers rushing through various office buildings—cafés are the preferred venues for daily business meetings, and coffee is also a great tool for staying alert during overtime and late nights. The caffeine in coffee stimulates the sympathetic nervous system after entering the body, which eliminates drowsiness, improves blood circulation, and makes the body feel warm and less tired, hence its "energizing" effect. However, stimulating and exciting the sympathetic nervous system has a negative effect on appetite, meaning appetite will decrease, so drinking coffee before a meal can suppress your desire to eat. Additionally, the stimulation increases stomach acid secretion, which can irritate an empty stomach and is not good for patients with conditions like stomach ulcers. But when consumed after a meal, the increased stomach acid secretion actually aids digestion. Therefore, drinking it after a meal is perfectly fine. Of course, "too much of a good thing is bad," and even the best things should be consumed in moderation. As a rule of thumb, two to three cups of coffee a day is appropriate. For most people, drinking four or five cups can lead to nausea, so be careful.
Yogurt
People often discuss how to drink yogurt for better health or when is the best time to drink it for optimal nutrient absorption. If you drink yogurt on an empty stomach, it can easily stimulate the gastrointestinal tract to empty, and the nutrients in the yogurt won't have enough time to be fully digested and absorbed before being expelled. Drinking it after a meal can reduce this stimulation and allow the yogurt to be slowly absorbed in the stomach.
Nutrition experts explain: Generally, the best time to drink yogurt is 30 minutes to 2 hours after a meal. Under normal conditions, the pH of gastric juice is between 1 and 3. When the stomach is empty, the gastric juice is highly acidic with a pH below 2, which is not suitable for the growth of the active lactic acid bacteria in yogurt. Only when the stomach's pH is higher can the lactic acid bacteria in the yogurt grow fully, which is beneficial for health. Furthermore, the optimal temperature for drinking yogurt is 10°C-12°C. Note that the temperature should not exceed 50°C, as this will deactivate the beneficial bacteria.
Honey
Honey is a naturally nutritious and nourishing food, and one of the most commonly used supplements. It contains various inorganic salts and vitamins whose concentrations are similar to human blood serum, making it easy for the body to absorb. Many office workers have the habit of drinking honey water to prevent constipation, nourish the skin, and maintain overall health.
Experts remind us: The timing of consuming honey is very important. It is recommended to drink it 1.5 to 2 hours after a meal. Drinking honey water on an empty stomach can easily increase the body's acidity, and over time, this can lead to excess stomach acid, causing stomach ulcers or duodenal ulcers. For people with sensitive stomachs, it's best to dissolve it in water at 30°C to avoid adverse symptoms like diarrhea or gastroenteritis. However, the temperature should not be too high. From a pharmacological perspective, heating honey above 67°C will destroy its vitamins and reduce its aroma, lowering its nutritional value.
Weight Loss Tea
Spring is the perfect time to get fit, lose weight, and show off a great figure. Many office workers who want to correct their figure and prevent weight gain rely on weight loss tea to control their weight.
Tea is, of course, an extremely familiar beverage to us. Most people know that you shouldn't drink tea immediately after a meal; it's best to wait about half an hour. However, many people overlook that tea shouldn't be consumed on an empty stomach either. The ancient saying, "Do not drink tea on an empty stomach," means exactly this. Because tea contains caffeine and other alkaloids, drinking it on an empty stomach allows the intestines to absorb too much caffeine, which can easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort and a loss of appetite.
Currently popular weight loss tea products on the market emphasize the concept of tea therapy for health, with main ingredients extracted from natural tea leaves. Consequently, they are also not suitable for consumption on an empty stomach. Moreover, according to a person in charge from a well-known domestic weight loss tea brand, drinking it correctly can make the weight loss tea more effective, and a very important rule is to drink it after a meal and never on an empty stomach.
Therefore, it's important to note that these 4 major drinks should absolutely not be consumed on an empty stomach, as they can lead to health risks. Drink beverages wisely to prevent health hazards.