Many foods can affect the body and stomach when consumed on an empty stomach, and milk is one of them. Drinking milk on an empty stomach can easily lead to discomfort like diarrhea. So, what other foods should you not eat on an empty stomach? Let's find out together with the editor.
Reasons for diarrhea from drinking milk on an empty stomach
Milk is easily expelled from the stomach, and its protein is broken down by the body. The calories are burned off, so many nutrients cannot be absorbed. These nutrients can turn into substances harmful to the human body, increasing the body's burden. Therefore, drinking milk on an empty stomach will definitely cause some diarrhea or gastrointestinal diseases.
Milk contains lactose. The lactose in milk is a disaccharide. Because its molecules are too large, its breakdown and metabolism in the body require the participation of lactase. However, when lactase in the small intestine fails to function, the lactose ferments in the large intestine, leading to symptoms such as bloating, bowel sounds, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea within about half an hour to 2 hours. This is collectively known as "lactose intolerance." Generally, lactase deficiency is related to genetic factors and early weaning dietary habits.
When milk is consumed on an empty stomach, the lactose in it cannot be digested in time. Instead, it is broken down by bacteria in the intestines, producing a large amount of gas and acid. This stimulates intestinal contractions and enhances bowel movements, leading to symptoms like abdominal pain and diarrhea. The scientific solution is to eat some bread or crackers before drinking milk, and avoid drinking too much milk at once. Drinking milk in small, divided portions daily, gradually increasing the amount, can help the body adapt. Drinking too much milk at once or on an empty stomach can trigger lactose intolerance. If you still can't adjust, you can switch to yogurt or low-lactose milk. During the fermentation process, yogurt converts large lactose molecules into smaller ones, making it easier to digest and absorb for those with lactose intolerance.
The above are the reasons for diarrhea from drinking milk on an empty stomach. The main reason is that in the morning, when you drink milk on an empty stomach, the lactose in the milk hasn't had a chance to be digested before it ferments in the large intestine, leading to abdominal pain, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea. Therefore, it's best not to drink milk on an empty stomach in your daily life. You can drink milk one to two hours after breakfast, and before drinking milk, you can eat some foods rich in starch.
Dangers of drinking milk on an empty stomach
1. Drinking milk on an empty stomach hinders digestion
Since water accounts for a large proportion of milk, drinking a lot of it on an empty stomach dilutes gastric juice, which is not conducive to the digestion and absorption of food. Additionally, the intestines move quickly when empty, so milk passes through the gastrointestinal tract very quickly and has a short residence time. Its nutrients often don't have time to be absorbed before rushing into the large intestine, making the process ineffective. Therefore, drinking milk on an empty stomach is not hygienic from a nutritional standpoint.
2. Drinking milk on an empty stomach is bad for the stomach
Many people have milk and eggs for breakfast, drinking milk right after washing their faces. Drinking milk on an empty stomach doesn't give the stomach enough time to digest it, so the nutrients aren't absorbed, and it can even cause bloating. At the same time, excess stomach acid causes protein to denature and precipitate, making it difficult for the stomach and intestines to absorb nutrients, which can lead to indigestion and diarrhea. Therefore, it's best to drink milk after all other foods in a meal to facilitate absorption and improve tolerance.
3. Drinking milk on an empty stomach produces harmful substances
If you drink milk on an empty stomach, not only is the milk quickly expelled from the stomach, but the high-quality protein is also broken down by the body for energy, so it cannot perform its proper function. Some amino acids are not absorbed in time in the small intestine and are excreted into the large intestine, where the protein and amino acids are decomposed and putrefied into substances harmful to the body, increasing the body's burden.
What other foods should not be eaten on an empty stomach?
1. Hawthorn
Hawthorn itself contains a large amount of organic acids and fruit acids, which can easily irritate the stomach. Therefore, it's best not to eat it on an empty stomach. When people consume hawthorn, the organic acids and fruit acids stimulate gastric acid secretion, which adversely affects the gastric mucosa, leading to bloating and acid regurgitation. Therefore, it is not recommended to eat hawthorn on an empty stomach.
2. Pineapple
Pineapple itself is quite acidic and contains a special substance—bromelain. Consuming this substance on an empty stomach can easily damage the stomach. It is recommended to eat this fruit after a meal, as this will not harm the stomach and will also help the body absorb its nutritional elements.
3. Garlic
Many people have the habit of eating garlic before meals, especially men. In fact, the body is in a fasting state before a meal. Eating garlic at this time can irritate the stomach because garlic contains a substance—allicin—that can irritate the gastric mucosa and intestinal wall, leading to stomach cramps.
4. Tea
Tea culture has a long history since ancient times, and I believe everyone is aware of tea's own value. Although tea has many benefits for the human body, there are also certain precautions to take. The time of drinking tea should also be noted; it is best not to drink tea on an empty stomach!
Tea water contains more theophylline, which can irritate the stomach and cause abnormal secretion of gastric juice, leading to reduced digestive function. In addition, it can have other effects on the stomach, such as stomach pain.
5. Alcohol
It is said that you should not drink on an empty stomach because it can cause low blood sugar, and this is true. When the body is empty, blood sugar is low. If you drink alcohol on an empty stomach, blood sugar will drop even lower, which can also cause symptoms like dizziness and cold sweats. When blood sugar drops to a certain level, a person may lose consciousness. Therefore, you must avoid drinking on an empty stomach and be sure to eat something before drinking.
The human body cannot eat anything on an empty stomach, just like the foods mentioned above. If a person eats the above foods on an empty stomach, it will not only harm the stomach but also have a significant impact on health. Therefore, to be on the safe side, never eat the several foods mentioned above on an empty stomach!