When the human body is in a state of hunger, blood sugar levels will relatively decrease. However, when blood sugar drops to a certain level, symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, and weakness can occur. In severe cases, discomfort like palpitations, cold sweats, and hand tremors may appear. At this time, the driver's sense of direction and judgment are impaired, and their reaction ability decreases, all of which can become a hidden danger for traffic accidents.
Foods not to eat on an empty stomach
1. Sugar
Sugar is a food that is easily digested and absorbed. When you eat it on an empty stomach, the sugar is almost immediately absorbed by the body. This can cause two problems: one is a temporary phenomenon of high blood sugar, and the other is that sugar hinders the body's absorption and utilization of protein.
2. Persimmons, black dates, and hawthorn
Eating the above foods on an empty stomach can easily lead to bezoars. Most bezoars are phytobezoars, often caused by consuming large amounts of persimmons, black dates, or hawthorn on an empty stomach. These fruits contain astringent tannic acid, especially in unripe fruits. When it comes into contact with gastric acid, it forms tannic acid protein, which is difficult to dissolve in water. When it then condenses with pectin and plant fibers, it forms a bezoar.
Bezoars are a relatively common acute gastrointestinal disease. Its symptoms include discomfort in the upper abdomen, bloating, dull pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Common complications include erosion of the gastric mucosa, ulcer bleeding, severe cases can lead to gastric perforation and peritonitis, and if a bezoar enters the intestine, it may cause intestinal obstruction.
Experts remind that to avoid such diseases, people should not eat hawthorn and fruits of the persimmon family on an empty stomach, especially not in large quantities or by eating unripe fruits of these two plants.
3. Alcohol, coffee, milk, and strong tea
Drinking alcohol is detrimental to health in itself, and the harm is even greater when consumed on an empty stomach, as it harms the stomach and easily intoxicates. With no food in the stomach to mitigate it, the body urgently needs to absorb something (alcohol), and alcohol directly stimulates and erodes the gastric mucosa and muscular layer, inhibits the secretion of various digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract, and easily causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and bloating, loss of appetite, dizziness, tinnitus, muscle tremors, and shortness of breath.
Coffee stimulates gastric acid secretion, and it can be irritating to the stomach even when not consumed on an empty stomach. Drinking stimulating coffee on an empty stomach can easily cause "injury to the stomach's qi," thereby affecting the stomach's digestive and absorption functions. In severe cases, it can lead to gastric ulcers, a point that people with gastric ulcers should pay special attention to.
In fact, most people have no problem drinking milk on an empty stomach, but some people with gastrointestinal issues or congenital "lactose intolerance" should not drink milk on an empty stomach, especially not in large quantities. Otherwise, adverse reactions such as bloating and diarrhea may occur. It is recommended that such people eat some starchy foods first, then drink milk in small amounts several times.
Tea also contains alkaloids such as caffeine. If consumed on an empty stomach, it can cause excitatory symptoms in some people, such as palpitations, dizziness, weak limbs, and a dazed mind. People who are not used to drinking tea are more likely to experience these symptoms if they drink tea on an empty stomach. Furthermore, compared to young people, the elderly have more fragile digestive systems and are even less suitable for drinking strong tea on an empty stomach, as it can cause indigestion or constipation.
Of course, these warnings are for some people. Some people may have a naturally strong stomach and have no problem eating the above foods on an empty stomach. Consider this a friendly reminder. In fact, not only should one be careful about what to eat on an empty stomach, but also pay attention to the following matters.
5 things not to do on an empty stomach
1. Exercise
The main source of energy for the human body is carbohydrates, proteins, etc., ingested from the diet. If we exercise without eating anything, we will inevitably need to consume a large amount of energy, causing blood sugar levels to drop.
If you exercise excessively and your blood sugar concentration is too low, the brain may feel fatigued due to lack of energy, making you feel dizzy and weak. Some people may also turn pale, have cold sweats. If this continues, it can lead to disorientation and even coma.
2. IV drip
It is best not to have an IV drip on an empty stomach. Because after the drug enters the blood vessels, it circulates with the blood into the capillaries of the gastrointestinal tract, stimulating the gastrointestinal mucosa and causing an increase in gastric juice secretion. Without food to neutralize it, this can cause symptoms such as acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, and pain.
In addition to the reaction itself, an IV drip on an empty stomach can also induce or aggravate adverse drug reactions. If the patient is in good health, delaying a meal may not be a big issue, but if the injected drug affects blood sugar, it may cause hypoglycemia.
3. Bathing
As the saying goes, "Don't wash your hair when full, don't bathe when hungry." There is some truth to this. Bathing on an empty stomach before a meal can easily lead to hypoglycemia, causing fatigue, dizziness, and even symptoms of collapse. It's also not good to bathe immediately after a meal; it's best to wait an hour or longer after a meal.
4. Driving
When the human body is in a state of hunger, blood sugar levels will relatively decrease. However, when blood sugar drops to a certain level, symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, and weakness can occur. In severe cases, discomfort like palpitations, cold sweats, and hand tremors may appear. At this time, the driver's sense of direction and judgment are impaired, and their reaction ability decreases, all of which can become a hidden danger for traffic accidents.
5. Getting an ECG
Getting an ECG on an empty stomach may lead to hypoglycemia, causing an accelerated heartbeat and a result of "sinus tachycardia," which affects the accuracy of the test results. Therefore, to ensure the accuracy of the test results, it is best to eat something before the ECG and rest quietly for 10 minutes, ensuring even breathing before the examination.