After a saturated lunch or dinner, many people feel the desire to lie down and have some rest. However, doctors warn that such rest, immediately after a meal, can adversely affect their health.
What risks do you rest immediately after a meal?
According to gastroenterologists, you should not lie down for several reasons immediately after a meal:
- Increased heartburn and reflux risk: In a horizontal position, gastric juice can enter the esophagus, causing an unpleasant feeling of burning in the chest and even pain. This is especially true for people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERL).
- Slow digestion: When a person is lying, the stomach and intestine work less effectively, which can lead to a feeling of heaviness, bloating and discomfort.
- Increased load on the body: When digesting food, blood is actively flowing into the digestive organs, and if you lie down at that time, it can lead to a reduction in metabolic processes.
What to do after a meal?
Doctors advise you to follow simple rules after a meal to help preserve the health of the gastrointestinal tract:
- Be in a vertical position for at least 30-60 minutes: This will allow the stomach to digest food normal and prevent acid from entering the esophagus.
- Walk: Even a short 10 to 15 minutes of walking improves peristalsis and promotes better food absorption.
- Sitting rest: If you feel tired, it is better to just sit in a comfortable position to avoid extra load on your stomach.
Choosing the right sleep posture
If, however, you need to lie down, for example, or tired, doctors recommend lying on your left side. This position of the stomach is naturally and reduces the risk of heartburn and reflux.
It is also important to pay attention to what you eat in the evening. Avoiding heavy, fatty foods at bedtime can reduce the likelihood of discomfort. Also, if dinner is late, it is recommended to leave for at least 2-3 hours between eating and sleep.
This will give your stomach enough time to start the digestive process until you lie down. Regular physical activity during the day can also improve digestion and reduce discomfort after a meal.
Finally, if you feel constant discomfort after each meal, consult your doctors or pharmacists to find out possible health problems and solve them.
Photos associative © canva
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