I read in an e-mail years ago that there are seven things most people do after taking a meal which can harm our body rather than make us healthy. I thought that this is worth sharing because when I found out about this, I was really surprised - heck, I do four out of seven!
- Don't take naps after a meal. This, I'm pretty sure all of us are guilty of. Who can blame us? Sleeping after a meal is very tempting. I get sleepy whenever I get full, regardless of whether I'm done eating or not. But cased on research, proper digestion is not possible while sleeping. This may lead to gastric problems and infections in our intestine.
- Don't smoke. I know it's tempting. I know it's a must for a majority of smokers! But - they know better! Based on a series of experiments, smoking a stick right after a meal is equivalent to smoking ten sticks! Ever heard about lung cancer?
- Don't drink tea. Yes, tea is healthy as it prevents stroke and prevents build-up of fatty acids on the artery wall, but don't drink tea right after chow-time. This is because the high acid content in tea leaves will cause protein from the food we eat to harden, thus making digestion harder.
- Don't bathe. This, I don't do, not because I know that it causes an increased blood flow to my hands, body and legs, thus decreasing the amount of blood in my stomach, causing improper digestion. It's not just very appealing to me. I still go with number one - sleeping. (But I will try my hardest not to do this anymore. Really.).
- Don't loosen your belt. This leads to a blocked and twisted intestine. Plus I read somewhere, too that if you want a smaller waist, then this won't help at all.
- Don't walk around. Yes, this may make you feel that you've burned what you just ate, but in reality, walking immediately after meals prevent absorption of nutrients and vitamins from the food we eat.
- Don't eat fruits immediately. Instead, eat fruits in an empty stomach to allow better absorption of vitamins and nutrients. If you really want fruits as your dessert, take it an hour or two after a meal to prevent a bloated stomach.
