Things You Should Not Do After Eating

Digestion begins even before we eat something, because when we see, smell, or even think of some tasty food, the saliva begins to form in our mouth, which is the initial step in digestion.
Habits form our lifestyle, and the lifestyle determines our living -- healthy or unhealthy. Habits are plenty in number, and they vary from one individual to another with respect to time and manner. While bad habits are bad at all times, some good ones may also become harmful in particular situations. The intention here is not to scare you about your habits, but to make you aware about certain things that never go well with certain situations. This brings us to our main point, i.e., what should not be done after eating. Our digestive system is strong enough to take in whatever we eat and digest it properly, absorbing all the essential nutrients, but at the same time, it is also pretty sensitive and cannot perform its function if obstructed by anything. Hence, here are a few things that should be avoided when you finish your meal. Things to Avoid Immediately After Eating
*Please Note: People with a sensitive stomach are more susceptible to the things mentioned in the following sections than others.

I agree to the fact that brushing your teeth before bedtime is a must in a healthy routine. However, brushing your teeth right after dinner, or after every meal for that matter, is extremely harmful for your teeth. Brushing after eating will scrub away the layers of enamel on the teeth. Furthermore, when you eat or drink acidic foodstuff, or those with a lot of sugar, it's even more dangerous. To protect the teeth enamel, wait for at least 30 minutes, and allow the mouth to produce sufficient saliva to neutralize the acidity of the food that soften the tooth enamel.

It is true that a person should drink 8 glasses of water every day to stay healthy. However, gulping it down right after eating something, or even during meals may disrupt digestion. Too much water after or during the meal might interfere with the natural levels of acid and bile that are essential for proper digestion. Furthermore, drinking cold water might slow down digestion and cause cramping in sensitive people. Try to resist drinking water for at least an hour after a meal, and avoid drinking it while eating.


Digestion requires a large amount of blood and more blood is concentrated in the digestive tract. Consequently, the brain is temporarily deprived of sufficient blood, resulting in lack of concentration. Also, because of satiation you tend to feel sleepy, and driving with sleepy eyes is never safe. Hence, don't force yourself to drive soon after you've had a meal. Take a break, let the body perform its natural functions, and after an hour or two, think of driving.

Although walking a hundred steps after eating is healthy, doing it immediately after a meal is not. Doing so will make it difficult for the digestive system to absorb the nutrients from the food. Furthermore, the blood will flow towards other organs, like legs, hands, etc., which will leave the digestive tract with an insufficient amount of blood flow that is needed for proper digestion. Also, some people might feel dizzy or nauseated if they walk soon after consuming food.





Consuming fruits at any time during the day is good except consuming them immediately after a meal. Eating fruits right after your meal may fill the stomach with air and cause bloating. They will also take time to reach the digestive tract, disturbing the entire process of digestion. To prevent your stomach from indigestion and other digestive problems, plan your consumption of fruits before or after 1-2 hours of a meal.

If you avoid doing all the above-said things after eating, it will definitely make your digestion easy, and you will probably be at a lower risk of any digestive problems. Give ample time to your body to adjust to the changes that you are making in the daily routine, and see the difference.

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Hidden Health Benefits of Eating Spicy Food

There are a number of people who crave for spicy food. The pleasure of eating a spicy meal can be an entirely different experience. A hot, burning sensation which can be discomforting and even painful though for some, it is worth relishing the flavor and they enjoy every bit of it. This is the magic of spicy food. Chili is not the only substance that increases the spiciness of the food, as there is pepper, turmeric, jalapenos and other herbs which add to the flavor and hotness. Though a lot of people think it is unhealthy to eat spicy food, the good news for spicy food-lovers is that this food contains hidden health benefits like improving immunity and heart health and even aiding weight loss too.

It is Healthy to Eat Spicy Food!

Spicy foods like chili and pepper get their hotness from a compound called capsaicin. It also plays a major role in providing health benefits. Higher the content of capsaicin the hotter that food becomes. But on coming in contact with the skin it may cause a burning sensation. It may also cause irritation to your eyes. Hence, be careful while handling chilies and peppers. Excess of spicy food also can be harmful, hence the consumption should always be in moderate amounts. Following are some of the health benefits that you gain from consuming spicy food in moderation.

One of the main compounds of chili is capsaicin which has a thermogenic effect on the body that leads to increased metabolism. This further results in burning extra calories and can lead to considerable weight loss. Apart from this, if you are following a diet or your healthy food is less appealing, then you can just sprinkle certain spices which will not only enhance the taste but can also keep you healthy.
Capsaicin in chilies reduces the effect of LDL or bad cholesterol which further reduce the chances of blood clots that may block the arteries. This helps in the proper circulation of blood through the heart and improves the functioning of cardiovascular system. Various studies have shown that people who eat more spicy food have lower incidents of heart and stroke problems.
Capsaicin also has the ability to inhibit the substance P, which is a neuropeptide, that triggers the body's inflammatory response. Hence, we can say that consumption of spicy food can help in reducing inflammation. It also prevents the inflammation of arteries.
Chili and pepper are high in vitamin A and vitamin C. Two teaspoons of chili powder provides about 10% of vitamin A and 6% of vitamin C of the body's daily requirement. It boosts the immune system and improves the first line of defense of the human body.
In 2006, a team of researchers from the Cancer Institute at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, in collaboration with colleagues from UCLA, found out that capsaicin drove human prostate cancer cells to kill themselves. But excess intake of capsaicin has also been associated with stomach cancer. So always be careful about the amount you consume.
According to a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2006, there was a considerable drop in the blood sugar levels in diabetic people after they have a spicy meal. The study was carried out on 36 diabetic people who were asked to eat bland food (without any chili and pepper) for four weeks. And then for the next four weeks their daily diet was supplemented with 30 gm of chili pepper blend. The results showed their blood sugar levels increased less when they consumed chili pepper blend in comparison to when they ate bland food. Relieves Congestion: Spicy food increases body heat and helps in clearing the mucus. This reduces sinus pressure and pain.Provides Better Sleep: Studies have shown that people who consume chili pepper on a daily bases enjoy a better and longer sleep.Boosts Mood: When you eat chilies, due to the instant hot sensation, the brain releases endorphins which are natural painkillers, and are also known as happy hormones, to nullify the effect. This naturally boosts your mood.Fights Stomach Ulcers: Stomach ulcers are usually caused due to the bacterial growth. Chili and pepper consumed in moderation are known to kill these bacteria and avoid stomach ulcers.So, even if you are not a lover of spicy food, you can just spice up your meal a bit to enjoy the goodness of chilies and pepper. To derive its various health benefits, it is very important to consume spicy foods in moderation, as excessive consumption can also cause harm.

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