Health

9 Things you shouldn’t do immediately after eating

Eating healthy is not the only thing that we need to keep fit and energetic. Our pre-meal and post-meal activities can majorly affect the way our bodies behave after eating. You need to understand that there are certain things that need your attention. We often make some mistakes after eating our meals, which is not good for the body. For instance, generally, people go for a walk immediately after meals with the thought that it will help them digest the food easily. But it is a myth. You can definitely go for a walk after a meal, but after at least 30 minutes, as the food needs time to settle. Also, sleeping immediately after a meal is a bad idea. You should try to engage in whatever activity you enjoy the most, like television or chatting with friends and family, but you should avoid sleeping immediately after, because as you lie down, many digestive juices travel in the opposite direction, and as a result, the entire digestive process is badly affected. Below is a list of things you should avoid after eating.

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1. Smoking: Ten cigarettes equal one cigarette after a meal. No matter how satisfying a good smoke after an even better meal may seem, your body needs to digest properly after eating. If you go ahead afterward, the nicotine binds to the excessive oxygen that is required in digestion, allowing your body to absorb more carcinogens than usual.
2. Sleep: Sleeping is an essential part of our lives. Going to bed immediately after eating could lead to bloating, discomfort, and abnormal sleep. As you engage in whatever activities you like the most, chatting with friends and family, watching television, but avoid sleeping immediately after, because as you lie down, many digestive juices travel in the opposite direction. As a result, the entire digestive system is badly affected.
3. Coffee and tea: drinking tea immediately after eating interferes with the iron absorption binding to the compound before your body has the chance to take it in. It is suggested by most nutritionists that tea should be consumed at least one hour after any meal.
4. Fruits
   It seems like we can’t have our daily serving of fruits as dessert anymore. Since they require certain enzymes to digest, it’s best to eat fruits on an empty stomach to allow maximum absorption. If you eat right after a meal, it gets mixed with the food, thus not traveling in time to the intestines and getting spoiled. As a result, it messes up the food too.
5. Shower
   Taking a bath after food increases the blood flow to other parts of the body except the stomach. It leads to indigestion and digestive problems. It is best to wait at least 30 minutes before taking a shower. Digestion needs a lot of energy, and when you take a shower, the blood vessels divert the flow to the skin, which is coping with the impact of cold water.
6. Consumption of water
   Avoid drinking cold water immediately after taking a meal. Cold water does not allow you to digest the food properly as it causes bunching of food, which may increase the chances of constipation.
   When you drink water right after your meals, it reduces the secretion of enzymes and juices in the stomach. It may cause acidity and bloating, making digestion difficult. “Drinking water at least half an hour before having a meal “You should wait for an hour after you’re done eating before reaching out for a glass of water,” advised Manisha.
7. Walking
   Many people say that as soon as you finish a meal, the best thing to do is go for a walk. But it is a myth. You can go for a walk after a meal, sure, but after at least 30 minutes as the food needs time to settle. Going for a walk after a meal can result in acid reflux and indigestion.
8. Belt adjustment
   Loosening the belt right after eating is a sign that you have eaten a lot more than required, and in short, it is bad for you.
   When you put or reduce pressure on your stomach after having meals, it disrupts your digestion and gastric process, leading to various health problems. So, avoid loosening your belt after meals. It is also a sign of overheating.
9. Exercise
   Going to the gym and doing exercise is a good option to shape your body and look awesome. But it’s really good to join the gym and do exercise right after your meal. Exercising right after meals can disrupt your digestion process. You may even experience vomiting, stomach puffiness, and loose motions.