Hunger seems to strike at the most inopportune times. On an empty stomach, it is tempting to pounce on whatever food is available. But not all foods are created equal, especially when your stomach has been rumbling for hours. To help you make the healthiest food choices, here’s a list of foods to avoid on an empty stomach, and we’ll also show you some things to avoid and why they can have serious consequences.
Acidic foods:
Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and salad dressings, should be avoided on an empty stomach. Eating these types of foods on an empty stomach can cause acid reflux, indigestion, and general discomfort. These acidic foods can similarly irritate the sensitive stomach lining, leading to increased production of stomach acids which can cause further irritation and inflammation in the digestive tract.
Black coffee:
Drinking black coffee on an empty stomach can have serious health consequences. Black coffee is very acidic and can trigger an overproduction of stomach acid. This can lead to heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Additionally, drinking black coffee on an empty stomach can lead to dehydration due to its diuretic qualities. Finally, black coffee stimulates the secretion of adrenaline, which increases the heart rate and causes palpitations and restlessness.
Yogurt :
Eating yogurt on an empty stomach might sound like a great way to fuel up, but it can actually harm your digestive health. Yogurt contains probiotics, live beneficial bacteria that help move food through the digestive tract more efficiently. Unfortunately, without anything else in the stomach, these good bacteria can irritate the stomach lining, causing indigestion or discomfort.
Also, consuming dairy products on an empty stomach increases stomach acid and can cause gas or bloating. Eating yogurt as part of a balanced meal or snack is still beneficial and can help you feel energized because it contains protein and other nutrients that will keep you moving forward in a healthy way.
Pastries:
Eating pastries on an empty stomach can be harmful for many reasons. This is because consuming pastries on an empty stomach causes a rapid spike in blood sugar levels, followed by a drastic drop in sugar levels soon after, due to their high sugar content. This can cause fatigue, even dizziness, if consumed on an empty stomach. Additionally, eating pastries too often can lead to long-term weight gain due to their higher fat content than other breakfast options such as oatmeal or eggs.
Spicy foods:
Spicy foods are best avoided on an empty stomach, as they contain capsaicin, which is known to cause burning sensations when eaten without food present in the digestive system being able to first absorb some of its calorific properties. . Additionally, spicy foods tend to stimulate gastrointestinal secretions with their pungent flavor, which can cause gastritis (inflammation) when eaten on an empty stomach without food.
In addition to food, other behaviors should be avoided when you have an empty stomach.
Never smoke on an empty stomach:
It is important to avoid smoking cigarettes or vaping on an empty stomach, as nicotine has the ability to raise blood pressure and constrict blood vessels when consumed alone. Which could have serious long-term consequences on our cardiovascular health if done frequently enough over time!
Never chew gum:
Chewing gum on an empty stomach can lead to digestive issues, as artificial sweeteners and other chemicals in chewing gum can irritate the stomach lining. Even natural gums, made from tree sap, can cause digestive upset when eaten on an empty stomach. Chewing gum can also cause gas and bloating, so it’s best to avoid this habit when hungry.
Never go shopping on an empty stomach:
Shopping on an empty stomach can lead a person to make impulse purchases that they may later regret. Thus, it also increases the risk of making unhealthy food choices, as the feeling of hunger can cloud judgment. When you decide to go shopping, it’s best to snack beforehand to avoid these temptations.
Stay away from arguments and conflicts.
It is not recommended to have heated discussions or engage in any kind of emotional argument on an empty stomach. Hunger makes us more easily agitated, causing us to make rash decisions or say things we don’t mean in the heat of the moment. It’s wise for both parties to pause before engaging in an argument or discussion, in order to keep a cool head and make better decisions.
