5 FOODS YOU SHOULD AVOID EATING ON EMPTY STOMACH
1. Fruit juices
For many of us, fruit juice is a staple in our diets. However, on an empty stomach, fruit juice may put an extra load on the pancreas. And the sugar in the form of fructose in fruits can negatively affect your liver.
While it appears to be a healthy choice, as per research by University of Toronto’s Department of Nutritional Sciences, when juicing fruits, some of the healthy fibre is lost as juice extractors separate the juice from the fibre-rich pulp and skins. That loss of fibre in fruit juices may result in spiking the blood sugar relatively more than when we eat the actual fruit, causing issues such as diabetes or high cholesterol.
2. Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits like guava and oranges may increase acid production in your gut, increasing the risk of gastritis and gastric ulcers. And the heavy dose of fiber and fructose in such fruits can slow down your digestive system if eaten on an empty stomach.
3. Coffee
Unfortunately, this elixir of life if consumed on an empty stomach can lead to acidity as it stimulates the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the digestive system, which may cause gastritis.
4. Yoghurt
Consuming fermented milk products such as yoghurt on an empty stomach makes the lactic acid bacteria present in the yoghurt, ineffective due to high acidic levels of the stomach. Moreover, due to the high acidic levels, the stomach produces hydrochloric acid, which leads to acidity.
5. Salads
The raw vegetables used to prepare salads are perhaps a better choice for lunch. Raw vegetables are full of fibre, which may put an extra load on an empty stomach, causing flatulence and abdominal pain. Tomatoes, for instance, contain tannic acid, which, in contact with gastric juices in the stomach, could cause stomach irritation.
It is important to be cautious of not just what you are eating but also when you are eating. So while a number of your favourite staple morning foods might not be the best choice, there are still various alternatives that you can consume on an empty stomach that will also help you pivot from your established morning food habit. Be it fruits such as watermelon, composed of 90% water or low calorie and nutrition-rich porridge—the variety available is both healthy and delicious.
