Learn about 5 foods to avoid on an empty stomach to promote better digestion and overall gut health. You may get bad food significantly if you begin the day with no food. When you get hungry, you may want to quickly eat something and anything that is available, but eating certain foods on an empty stomach can do major destruction to your stomach. Some of the foods and drinks are very hard to consume on an empty stomach especially if you have a very delicate GI tract. To make it easier to make right choices, here is a list of these foods which should never be eaten on an empty stomach.
1. Coffee
While coffee appears to be an ideal beverage for the start of the day, if taken on an empty stomach, it can have more drawbacks instead of advantages. Strong coffee, and more specifically, black coffee, promotes the secretion of gastrin, a potent hormone responsible for generating acid in the stomach. This can cause bloating, nausea, and heartburn among other symptoms. The best way to avoid these problems is to consume the coffee after having a protein- or fat-rich meal. A light snack such as putting a little bit of a hard-boiled egg or nut butter before the coffee can help alleviate the symptoms.
2. Citrus Fruits and Juices
Other than vitamin c, oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and other citrus fruits are very acidic in nature and therefore quite harmful on an empty stomach. Consuming these fruits can trigger the production of excess stomach acid which leads to irritation and heartburn. Plus, the fiber and fructose content of these fruits can also be too heavy for the stomach and delay stomach emptying which makes the stomach work more than it should. If you are a fan of citrus, try balancing it out with something more neutral such glycoside starches such as whole-grain toast or oats.
3. Yogurt
Yogurt contains beneficial probiotics and lactic acid and is good for the gut, however, it should not be consumed on an empty stomach. Lots of acid is present in the stomach when people wake up in the morning which can damage the friendly bacteria and the yogurt makes it ineffective. Moreover, the consumption of yogurt on an empty stomach can result in a stimulation of over acid production leading to discomfort. This acidic portion of yogurt is best consumed after food when the stomach is capable of handling its effects.
4. Carbonated Beverages
If you’ve ever had an empty stomach, consuming soda, seltzer, or any type of fizzy drink will definitely be abrasive. It’s not unusual for carbon dioxide bubbles to generate pressure in your stomach, resulting in bloating and belly distress. Processed sugary sodas also have a tendency to quickly raise blood sugar levels, only to subsequently plummet after a brief time, which makes a person feel weak and tired. Instead of drinks that contain carbonation, take water or herbal teas in the morning to prevent these repercussions.
5. Sweetened, Hot and Oily Dishes
Sweets, for example pastries, donuts, or candy can be quite harmful especially if consumed on an empty stomach as they really have the potential to trigger a series of insulin spikes within the body, leading to energy depletion shortly after and making a person feel lethargic. In the same way, spicy and oily dishes such as fried chicken, French fries and excessively seasoned dishes may cause irritation to the stomach linings and eventually lead to feelings of indigestion, soreness or, at worst, diarrhea. Spicy foods make the stomach mucus to produce more, which also causes digestive trouble, while fatty foods require a period of time to be processed that is longer than usual, increasing acid formation and causing irritations of some sort.
Nutritional Substitutes for Breakfast
If you do not wish to follow the recommended foods, skipping breakfast is not an option. There are quite a number of other foods which are considered to be easy on the stomach and still supply the nutrients needed by the body. Water gets more than 90% of its substance from watermelon, which is quite a hydrating fruit, and a bowl of nutritious porridge may be such a good option for meal substitutes. Such meals are not only easy on the stomach but are also rich in various vitamins and fluids and make the ideal forays into a new day.
All in all, one must make an effort to know the kind of foods to eat on an empty stomach as they can have a positive effect on ones digestion as well as total health. Provided such troublesome foods are avoided and more pleasing and healthy foods consumed the chances of a more healthy day are further enhanced.
