Things Not to Do Within One Hour After Meals (Part II)

by 60888888 on 2010-02-27 10:53:55

Taking a bath after meals

Phenomenon: Some people like to take a bath right after eating, believing that bathing after meals promotes blood circulation and is beneficial for health. Others may sweat profusely during meals and prefer to clean up immediately afterward. Some dislike the greasy smell in restaurants. However, taking a bath immediately after eating can have significant effects on the body. The direct harm is poor digestion of the gastrointestinal tract.

Principle: After a meal, if you bathe, the blood flow to the skin surface increases, while the blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract decreases correspondingly, weakening the digestive function of the stomach and intestines, leading to indigestion.

Scientifically speaking, one should not bathe when hungry before a meal, as it can cause oxygen deficiency and temporary anemia. Bathing immediately after a meal is also not good; it’s better to wait at least an hour or longer after eating. Bathing before bed helps eliminate the day's fatigue and allows you to sleep soundly.

Walking immediately after meals

Phenomenon: There are two old Chinese sayings: "Take a hundred steps after a meal, live to be ninety-nine," and "To live to be ninety-nine, don't walk after a meal." Which of these sayings is more reliable?

Principle: For some people, walking a hundred steps after a meal does not help them live to "ninety-nine" but instead affects the absorption of nutrients in the digestive tract due to increased physical activity.

Walking a hundred steps after a meal is suitable for those who are less active, work long hours at a desk, are overweight, or produce too much stomach acid.

Inappropriate physical exercise can harm the stomach and gallbladder. During intense exercise, the body redistributes blood, weakening gastrointestinal peristalsis and greatly reducing the secretion of various digestive fluids, putting the digestive system in an inhibited state. Without proper rest after exercise, immediate eating or consuming large amounts of frozen beverages can easily lead to indigestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal and gallbladder diseases.

Not walking after meals mainly applies to individuals with weaker constitutions, chronic illnesses, especially those with conditions like gastropexy, where walking after meals is not recommended, and they should lie down for 10 minutes.

Driving after meals

Phenomenon: Many people know that driving under the influence of alcohol is dangerous, but did you know that driving after meals is also not advisable? Driving immediately after eating increases the risk of accidents. It's safer to wait an hour after eating before driving.

Principle:

1. Eating too much causes the stomach to expand, pressing against the steering wheel, making it harder to turn. If an emergency turn is needed but the wheel cannot be turned quickly enough, the car might crash straight ahead.

2. After eating, feeling full can lead to distractions, such as looking at attractive people on the road, which could make you lose focus on the road and increase the risk of accidents. I once almost caused an accident because I was distracted by someone and didn't notice the car in front braking in time.

3. Digestion of food in the stomach and intestines requires a large amount of blood, causing temporary brain ischemia, which may lead to operational errors and traffic accidents.