5 Things to Avoid Doing Right After You Eat

Are you one of those people who feels like they have a whole list of do’s and don’ts after eating? Like, should you sit? Stand? Maybe juggle flaming torches? (Okay, maybe not that last one.) We’re gonna get into some common habits that might be messing with your digestion.

We’ll explore some things we should avoid after meals.

• 5 Things to Avoid Doing Right After You Eat
• 1. Delaying Digestion
• 2. Eating Fruit Right After a Meal
• 3. Laying Down After Eating
• 4. Exercising After Eating
• 5. Drinking Tea After Eating
• Key takeaways
• FAQ, Myth & Facts

5 Things to Avoid Doing Right After You Eat

Here are the most important things to avoid right after finishing your meal:

1. Delaying Digestion

Lots of folks like to kick back and relax after they’ve eaten, but, um, holding off on chilling for a bit might actually be better for you. It helps your digestive system do its job without any interruptions. That said?

We always hear to avoid intense activity right away, but if you really can’t help it, try to keep it light after eating.

Wait a couple of hours before you light up that post-meal cigarette, because the nicotine interferes with oxygen absorption, which is key for proper digestion. Nicotine messes with mineral absorption, too, which is just adding insult to injury.

Studies suggest that smoking right after eating is like chain-smoking ten cigarettes at once. And, get this, it could up your risk of bowel and lung cancer.

2. Eating Fruit Right After a Meal

Something you should skip right after you eat? Fruit! It might actually cause indigestion, a heavy stomach, and bloating. I always thought of fruit as the perfect dessert.

The best time to enjoy your fruit is either before your meal or about an hour or two after, or on its own. This is because fruit digests differently than other foods; it needs different enzymes, and if it hangs out in your stomach for too long, it can, like, ferment.

Plus, the fructose in fruit needs time to be fully absorbed.

Interestingly, beyond these considerations, we also need to be mindful of the micronutrient content of the foods we consume, post-meal. For instance, foods rich in vitamin D, such as oily fish or fortified dairy products, play a significant role in calcium absorption. Conversely, certain foods like spinach or nuts contain oxalates and phytates, which can hinder calcium uptake. Balancing your diet with these factors in mind can optimize nutrient absorption and overall health, something we often overlook in our immediate post-meal choices.

3. Laying Down After Eating

If you’re tempted to snooze right after a meal, resist! Lying down can trigger heartburn, bloating, and general discomfort… plus, who wants heartburn?

One study from the University of Ioannina found that folks who waited longer before hitting the hay after eating were less likely to develop stroke. So, try to make it at least three hours between your last bite and bedtime.

4. Exercising After Eating

Working out right after eating can reduce blood flow to your stomach and intestines, which can slow down digestion. This puts extra stress on your digestive system, leading to stomachaches and an upset stomach. So, yeah, exercising immediately after eating is not a great idea.

5. Drinking Tea After Eating

Try not to chug tea right after your meal. Tea contains stuff that can block iron absorption. It’s generally known that tea interferes with the absorption of elements, including iron, because it contains tannic acid, which binds to iron and protein in your food.

Scientifically speaking, drinking tea after meals, in some cases, can lower iron absorption by up to 87%! This can lead to iron deficiency, which causes a host of unpleasant symptoms, like fatigue, chest pain, brittle nails, and hair loss, and also increases susceptibility to infections.

So there you have it: five things to avoid doing right after you eat, so you can dodge those unpleasant side effects.

Key takeaways

• Avoid laying down immediately to prevent heartburn, give it at least three hours.
• Exercising right after you eat can hinder digestion and lead to discomfort.
• Hold off on the tea after a meal due to its potential to block iron absorption.

FAQ, Myth & Facts

Is it bad to drink water right after eating?

It’s generally okay to drink water after eating. Some believe it dilutes stomach acid, but our bodies are pretty good at regulating that. Just don’t overdo it!

Is it okay to brush your teeth right after eating?

It’s better to wait about 30 minutes after eating before brushing, especially if you’ve had acidic foods. Brushing too soon can weaken enamel. I learned that one the hard way.

Will chewing gum help digestion after a meal?

Chewing gum can stimulate saliva production, which might help with digestion. But moderation is key – too much chewing can lead to swallowing excess air and bloating.

I used to crash on the couch right after dinner and always felt awful. Now, I take a short walk, and it makes a world of difference.

I’ve always loved having fruit for dessert, but now I wait a bit. It’s helped so much with my bloating!

Cutting out that after-dinner tea has been a game-changer for my energy levels. I didn’t even realize how much it was affecting my iron!