Due to work or other reasons, people often miss their meal times and end up extremely hungry, a state we call "getting past the point of hunger." In this condition, how should one eat for better health? Should one just dive into any food available to fill their stomach, regardless of what it is?
When hungry, that is, in a fasting state, the human gastrointestinal tract is empty. There is little to no food clinging to its walls. Moreover, it is filled with large amounts of digestive fluids, such as a significant amount of gastric acid and pancreatic fluid in the intestines. If one eats at this time, there is a possibility that the food could damage the gastrointestinal wall. Of course, this depends on the nature of the food. For instance, some fruits, nuts, animal cartilage, celery, etc., have a relatively hard texture and are high in dietary fiber. If not chewed sufficiently, they could genuinely harm the gastrointestinal wall. At this point, digestive fluids like gastric acid can cause further damage to the abraded area. Over time, this could potentially lead to a peptic ulcer.
Furthermore, the gastrointestinal tract is composed of smooth muscle, which contracts appropriately when empty. Suddenly consuming a large amount of food can irritate the gastrointestinal tract. When we are hungry (after the stomach has emptied), we must avoid eating foods that are too hard. At the same time, we should control our eating pace. Start with some soft-textured foods like congee or wonton soup, and eat slowly. Then, gradually progress to foods with a slightly firmer texture, such as meat, vegetables, rice, and noodles.