Eating is something everyone can do. Food is the first necessity of the people, and no one can go without eating. However, how one eats is also a matter of great learning. Paying attention to developing correct eating habits will be greatly beneficial to one's health. I. Six Principles of Diet
Early: After a night's sleep, the stomach and intestines are empty. Having some food in the morning can refresh the spirit, so breakfast should be early.
Slow: Chewing food slowly is beneficial for digestion. Eating hastily will increase the burden on the stomach.
Less: Although the nutrients the human body needs come from food, overeating can also damage digestive organs such as the stomach and intestines.
Light: The five flavors of food should not be overly strong. Eating more lightly flavored food is very good for health. Warm: The stomach prefers warmth and dislikes cold. Food should be served warm, and raw or cold food should be minimized, which is beneficial for the stomach's digestion and absorption of food.
Soft: Hard foods are the most difficult to digest, and undercooked meat can more easily harm the stomach, especially for those with a weak stomach or advanced age, who are very prone to illness from this. Therefore, food must be thoroughly cooked before being eaten. II. Soup Before a Meal
The dining habit of our country's residents is generally to eat first and then drink some soup. Western dining habits are to have some soup first, then eat (bread, etc.). Which of these two different dining habits is more scientific and reasonable? From a scientific and hygienic point of view, it is better to have some soup before eating. Because when a person is hungry and eats immediately, it is more stimulating to the stomach. Over time, it can easily lead to stomach problems or indigestion. If you drink some soup before eating, it is like doing warm-up exercises before a workout. It can activate the entire digestive system, cause the digestive glands to secrete a sufficient amount of digestive juices, and prepare for eating. This way, it will reduce the stimulation on an empty stomach and is beneficial for protecting the stomach. III. Eating While Standing
Medical research on the dining postures of different peoples around the world shows that standing is the most scientific, followed by sitting, and squatting is the least scientific. This is because when squatting, the legs and abdomen are compressed, blood flow is obstructed, the venous return blood volume decreases, and this in turn affects the blood supply to the stomach. And when eating, it is precisely when the stomach needs fresh blood the most. Some stomach problems may be related to the squatting dining posture. People mostly eat while sitting, mainly because of work fatigue, and sitting is the most comfortable posture. IV. Talking While Eating
The traditional view is that it is not advisable to talk and laugh while eating, as it is not good for digestion and absorption. However, some health experts now believe that it is appropriate to take about 30 minutes for a lunch, during which eating and talking can allow diners to communicate, express feelings, and relieve worries, allowing the stomach and intestines to digest food normally. The reason is that a pleasant mood can not only increase appetite but also excite the central nervous system, thereby promoting the secretion of a large amount of digestive juices and keeping the gastrointestinal tract in the best state of digestion. V. Liking Bitter Foods
Bitter foods not only contain inorganic compounds, alkaloids, and terpenes, but also contain certain sugars and amino acids. The amino acids in bitter foods are essential substances for human growth, development, health, and longevity. Bitterness can also regulate the function of the nervous system, helping people relax from a state of tension and alleviating the negative emotions caused by fatigue and boredom. Bitter foods such as bitter melon, coffee, bitter herbs, arrowhead, tea, chocolate, and beer contain vitamin B, which has the powerful ability to kill cancer cells. VI. Balanced Nutrition
Be not picky about food. Eat fruits between meals; drink soup before meals; eat melon vegetables separately. VII. Three Meals, Different
Breakfast should be good, lunch should be filling, and dinner should be moderate. A hasty breakfast and lunch, and a lavish dinner, is associated with obesity in 67% of people. Breakfast should be low in sugar and fat and high in protein. The same is true for lunch, because consuming high-protein foods like chicken or fish at lunch can make the blood rich in amino acids, including tyrosine, which can cross the blood-brain barrier and be converted into a chemical substance in the brain that sharpens the mind. Another key nutrient that can cross the blood-brain barrier is choline, found in fish, meat, egg yolks, soy products, oatmeal, rice, peanuts, and mountain walnuts. Choline is the chemical precursor of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which plays a major role in memory. Dinner should be high in carbohydrates. VIII. A Happy Mood
When in a good mood during a meal, appetite is enhanced, blood circulation is good, and the digestive function of the gastrointestinal tract is strong, enhancing immunity; if the mood is suppressed and gloomy during a meal, it will affect appetite, affect normal blood circulation, reduce the function of the entire digestive system, and lower a person's immunity. IX. Pay Attention to Hygiene
Wash hands before meals, and do not eat rotten or spoiled food. X. Chew Thoroughly
Thorough chewing can grind food into small pieces and fully mix it with saliva for easy swallowing. At the same time, chewing can reflexively cause the secretion of saliva, gastric juice, pancreatic juice, and other digestive juices, providing favorable conditions for the further digestion of food. XI. Regular and Quantitative
Eating regularly and in fixed amounts can make the gastrointestinal tract move and rest regularly, thereby increasing the digestion and absorption rate of food, keeping the gastrointestinal tract in good condition, and reducing the occurrence of gastrointestinal diseases. XII. Eat Less, More Often
Eating less means low blood sugar concentration, less insulin secreted by the body, lower cholesterol levels, and less body fat; but note that no matter how many meals you eat, the total calories should not exceed the total of three meals a day. XIII. Moderation in Diet
Dietary moderation can not only reduce the burden on the stomach and intestines, but also because the body is in a semi-hungry state, the autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, and immune system receive a benign stimulation, thereby mobilizing the body's own regulatory functions, stabilizing the internal circulation, enhancing immunity, and balancing the excitation and inhibition of the nervous system, which is beneficial for improving a person's ability to resist disease. XIV. Preventing "Drunk from Food"
Some people, after eating too much, often experience a state of drunkenness even without alcohol, that is, their thoughts become disordered and they feel drowsy after a meal. This is because when a person consumes too many carbohydrates, the glucose can be converted into alcohol (ethanol) in the stomach. After this alcohol is absorbed by the body, it will cause a series of symptoms. The key to preventing "drunk from food" is to avoid overeating.