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“You are what you eat.” You’ve surely heard this well-known saying. However, our health is also greatly affected by what we do before the meal itself.
There are 9 things you should not do, especially if you have an empty stomach, or if at least 2 hours have passed since your last meal. And those are exactly what we’ll talk about in today’s article.
As a bonus, we’ll also reveal at the end what you should do instead when you feel hungry.
1. Do not take anti-inflammatory drugs
Common pain and anti-inflammatory medications, for example acylpyrin, paracetamol or ibuprofen, should not be taken on an empty stomach.
Not only does this reduce their effect, but they can cause serious health problems, such as bleeding in the stomach or intestines.
Milk tends to reduce the unwanted side effects of these medications. If you don’t have it on hand, then when taking them at least drink plenty of plain water.
2. Do not drink coffee
Even decaffeinated coffee stimulates the production of stomach acids, which can, on an empty stomach, cause heartburn or other digestive system problems.
If after coffee on an empty stomach you also skip breakfast, the result can be a lack of serotonin and a bad mood for the rest of the day.
If you can’t give up the habit of drinking coffee as the first thing in the morning, at least add milk or cream to it. As in the previous case, milk can also dampen its undesirable effects on the stomach.
It’s also better to drink regular (fresh-brewed) coffee than instant.
3. Do not drink alcohol
Without food, the rate of alcohol absorption into the blood doubles and approaches the effectiveness of being injected directly into a vein.
At the same time, the breakdown of alcohol’s metabolic products is weakened, resulting in a severe hangover. The rapid effect of alcohol on the body has adverse consequences for your liver, heart and kidneys.
If you find yourself in a situation where an alcoholic drink is offered and you haven’t eaten, choose a chilled, non-carbonated alcoholic drink. This type is absorbed more slowly.
Also try to eat at least one small sandwich, ideally one with butter (fat binds alcohol).
4. Do not chew gum
Stomach acids that are secreted while chewing gum damage the stomach lining. Frequent chewing on an empty stomach can lead to gastritis.
It is scientifically proven that people who chew gum prefer fast food items like fries or various sweets over fruit and vegetables.
If you do chew gum, choose at least those that contain natural sweeteners like xylitol and sorbitol rather than sugar, sodium cyclamate or aspartame.
Also, it is not recommended to chew gum for longer than 10 minutes, even on a full stomach.
5. Do not go to bed
Hunger and low blood sugar prevent us from falling asleep, cause shallow sleep and provoke premature awakening.
It is also interesting that lack of sleep increases levels of hunger hormones. This is why the next day after a skipped dinner we eat more.
Eating before sleep is also not a good idea. It’s best to have a glass of warm milk with honey.
Milk contains calcium and magnesium – minerals that support sleep. Honey raises blood glucose levels and helps us fall asleep more easily.
6. Do not exercise intensively
There is an opinion that exercising on an empty stomach burns more calories. The truth, however, is that it does not affect fat loss, but it does affect loss of muscle mass.
Besides, exercising on an empty stomach is more difficult because you lack energy.
Instead of intensive exercise, do aerobics. However, have a small snack beforehand, because any exercise increases the production of stomach acids, which can be harmful to the stomach.
7. Do not go shopping or make shopping lists
We all know that hunger makes us buy more food in the supermarket than we actually need.
According to research, the internal signal “I need food” turns into “I want more” and a person then listens to this inner voice and buys more.
Therefore, prepare shopping lists in advance and only when you are fed. It also helps save money in stores if you pay with cash instead of a payment card.
8. Do not drink citrus fruit juices
The acids and insoluble fiber in citrus fruits irritate an empty stomach, which is especially dangerous for people with gastritis or stomach ulcers, or with an increased risk of these conditions.
The exception is drinking lukewarm water mixed with a little fresh lemon juice consumed in the morning after waking up. Even here, breakfast should follow.
Freshly squeezed juice from oranges or grapefruits should also be diluted with water at a ratio of 1:1 for people with stomach problems or 2:1 for others (2 parts juice, 1 part water).
9. Do not argue
Research has shown that when we are hungry, we are more likely to argue. That’s because self-control also requires energy, of which we have little while hungry.
If you don’t have time to eat before a more serious debate, at least drink some warm beverage and offer it to the other person as well.
Your discussion will then be much more productive and pleasant.
What to do instead when you are hungry
Now you’re probably thinking we’ll tell you to eat.
You can do that, but there are also things you may do even better while hungry than when you’re full.
A. Problem solving
When hungry, attention and concentration are higher than when satiated. This stems from ancient instincts, when our hungry ancestors had to focus on catching food.
The hunger hormone ghrelin also helps with various other activities requiring brain activity.
B. Making decisions
If you can’t decide what you want, for example whether a red skirt or a blue jacket (or anything else), try to make that decision on an empty stomach.
Research confirms that hunger leads people to more successful, although more impulsive, decisions.
Of course, do not use this method if it is a serious decision regarding finances, relationships or other important matters.
