Sitting Versus Standing While Eating: Which Is Best For Digestion? | Henry Ford Health

Many of us have grabbed a quick meal or snack on the run, often standing to eat. Ever wonder how standing versus sitting to eat affects your digestion and overall health?

“There are only slight differences in the way you digest food when you eat while standing versus sitting. Your eating habits play a bigger role in regulating digestion and boosting overall health,” says Mustafa Al-Shammari, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Henry Ford Health. “So focus on eating slowly, choosing a well-balanced diet, staying hydrated and exercising regularly to support digestion and maintain a healthy weight.”

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Standing Up To Eat?

It turns out that skipping the table and eating standing up offers advantages and disadvantages.

“Studies have shown that your stomach tends to empty faster when standing versus sitting to eat. This marginal difference may provide relief for people with certain gastrointestinal conditions,” says Dr. Al-Shammari.

For example, people with acid reflux experience heartburn or a sour taste from stomach acid that travels back through the tube (esophagus) that connects the throat and stomach. Likewise, individuals with gastroparesis feel full or have nausea and vomiting after eating. That’s because their stomach is unable to empty properly.

But if you have reflux or gastroparesis, standing to eat isn’t your only option. “While standing to eat could offer individuals with these conditions relief, it’s not the only solution. Sitting upright during and after eating provides the same benefit,” says Dr. Al-Shammari.

Eating standing up can also lead to discomfort from bloating, cramps and gas. These symptoms occur because your stomach moves food faster down your digestive tract. You also tend to eat faster when you stand, causing you to swallow more air.

“Eating standing up can also lead to weight gain because you may feel hungry sooner after standing to eat,” adds Dr. Al-Shammari.

What Are The Benefits Of Eating Sitting Down?

Sitting down to eat allows you to take time to enjoy your food and eat more slowly. Food stays in your stomach longer, helping you feel full after finishing your meal.

“When you sit down for a meal, you eat more leisurely, which helps you manage your portion size and avoid extra calories. You also tend to chew your food more thoroughly when sitting, which aids digestion,” Dr. Al-Shammari says.

Healthy Eating Habits

When it comes to your digestion and overall health, eating habits are more important than eating position. Dr. Al-Shammari recommends trying these strategies:

• Avoid laying down after eating: Keep upright for two to three hours after meals to reduce gastrointestinal discomfort and aid digestion.
• Eat a well-balanced diet: Plan meals that include fruits and vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. Avoid fatty, fried foods and sugary drinks.
• Exercise regularly: Movement helps digestion and boosts overall health and wellness. Start the day with a morning walk or try multiple short exercise sessions throughout the day.
• Practice mindful eating: Be purposeful during meals and focus on your food. Eliminate distractions by turning off your phone, computer and television during meals. Make meals a time to connect with family and friends. This approach can help you more fully enjoy your meals and avoid overeating.
• Stay hydrated: Aim to drink at least 64 ounces of water daily to support regular bowel movements and overall digestive health.

To find a gastroenterologist at Henry Ford, visit henryford.com or call 1-800-436-7936.

Dr. Mustafa Al-Shammari is a gastroenterologist who sees patients at Henry Ford Hospital and Henry Ford Medical Center – Lakeside.

How Long Should You Wait Before Going To Bed After Dinner?

By Dixit Arora +2
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Last updated: May 1, 2023

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Eating a late dinner may keep you awake and cause problems with your sleep. Many times, eating at the wrong hour can also result in digestive problems and related signs like heartburn, indigestion, etc. It can also lead to sudden weight gain. There, you must be aware of the right time to eat your meals before bedtime.

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How Long To Wait Between Bedtime and Meal

Your body is most comfortable digesting food in an upright position, as it allows for easy digestion. Lying down immediately after eating a light meal for dinner can cause the stomach contents to reflux into the oesophagus, triggering symptoms of GERD and heartburn. This is more likely to happen if your stomach has not emptied by the time you go to bed. 

Usually, it is advised that you wait for about 2-3 hours before going to bed once you have had your dinner. This provides ample time for digestion and the contents in your stomach to move into the small intestine – and reduces the likelihood of various digestive problem symptoms.  

Besides, allowing a couple of hours to elapse before lying down after your least meal can lower your chances of having sleep disorders and gaining weight. 

The Complex Relationship between Sleep and Food

Certain food items such as turkey, fatty fish, almonds, etc. can enhance your sleep quality. These contain high levels of tryptophan – a substance that your body metabolizes into melatonin and serotonin. Both of these facilitate sleep.

Many people develop a habit of binging on unhealthy snacks late in the night – chips, doughnuts, cookies and aerated beverages. Midnight snacking is a sure-fire way to increase calorie intake and gain weight. You must not indulge in unhealthy snacking before going to sleep, as it will harm you in ways more than one.

Foods to Avoid Before Going to Bed

Certain foods, when consumed right before bedtime, can block adenosine – a chemical that helps us fall asleep naturally. Also, make sure you avoid consuming foods that contribute to insomnia. These include –

• Alcohol

Many people suffering from insomnia or sleep disorders are of the opinion that having a few glasses of wine or whiskey makes them fall asleep faster. However, experts recommended not to follow this ritual for the following reasons

-Alcohol interferes with the natural sleep cycle in the middle of the night reducing the regenerative REM sleep

-Alcohol relaxes the muscles. This can lead to snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. 

-Alcohol plays an impact on the oesophagal sphincter muscle causing it to relax and cause acid reflux. 

• Heavy Foods

Meals that take a while to digest such as fried foods, and cheesy and meat-based dishes should be avoided for dinner or even late-night snacking. Stick to lightly cooked clean meals.  

• High Water Content Foods

Refrain from having food with higher water content such as watermelon, cucumber, celery, etc. having to frequently run to the bathroom will hamper the quality of your sleep. Similarly, do not drink too much water before going to bed. 

• Spicy Foods

Spicy foods are a big nono before bedtime. If you love your pepper or chillies, have it for breakfast, lunch or your evening snack. 

• Acidic Foods

Acidic foods are also responsible for causing acid reflux which can make getting quality sleep quite difficult. Avoid having citrus fruits or their juices, tomatoes and onions.  

• Caffeine

Aside from coffee, many soft drinks and chocolates contain caffeine. Having consuming caffeine before bedtime as it works like a stimulant makes you stay awake for longer hours. You should maintain a gap of 5-6 hours from having caffeine-based foods to winding down for bedtime. 

• Sugary Treats

Sugary drinks, sugary desserts, candies and cereals should not be consumed before bedtime or for dinner.

Moreover, you should also avoid eating sugary foods at night before going to bed. This is because your body uses up a micronutrient like Magnesium to assimilate sugar into the body. Magnesium is needed to help you fall asleep and with a lack of magnesium, sugary foods can keep you awake at night. On the other hand, chocolates contain caffeine which increases brain activity, thereby preventing you from falling asleep.

You should also avoid eating food that is too spicy before going to bed at night. This can lead to a rise in body temperatures that tend to keep you awake longer. Your body generally reduces its internal temperature during sleep and if this spicy food keeps your body temperature higher, it gives signals to your brain that this may not be the right time to sleep. Apart from that, spicy food can often cause indigestion and acidity, which can be yet another reason that prevents a good night’s sleep.

Foods You Should Eat Before Going to Bed

In case you find yourself hungry a few hours after having your meal, it is recommended that you have a light meal for dinner to satiate your hunger pangs. You can have foods that are easily digestible and low in calories. Examples include –

• Eggs
• Sweet potatoes
• Bananas
• Almonds 
• Turkey meat 
• Chamomile tea 
• Kiwi 
• Tart cherry juice
•  Fatty fish
• Walnuts

A tip – Playing relaxing music at a slow volume before you sleep can help you fall asleep faster.

The Bottom Line

To live a healthy life, you may need to make some changes to your daily routine for good health. Eat two hours before your bedtime and keep it light to avoid health issues. After all, a good night’s sleep is all-essential for a healthy body.

Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.  

Experts explained why it is harmful to sleep after eating – Moscow 24, 08/16/2021

August 16, 2021, 08:31

Society

After a hearty meal, probably, every Muscovite wants to lie down or even sleep. However, this may not be for everyone. We tell why people have formed such a habit and what threatens an afternoon nap.

Photo: depositphotos/SophiDante

Quiet time

According to experts, the recommendation to lie down and relax after eating came to us from Soviet times.

“In Soviet sanatoriums, the main criterion for excellent rest and treatment was weight gain at discharge. This can be understood, since people in the post-war years were literally malnourished, so weight gain was sometimes vital for them. Those days are long gone, because we live in conditions of food abundance, but the stereotype has remained alive,” explained nutritionist Olga Lushnikova

Psychologists believe that the habit of after-dinner sleep has remained with many people since childhood: kids in kindergarten are supposed to go for a quiet hour after eating. This is necessary so that the little ones grow stronger and grow well.

In addition, impressions and emotions are processed by the psyche during sleep. The child’s psyche is still developing and therefore needs more sleep.

Olga Khabibulina

psychologist

However, what is good for kids is not always suitable for adults. Over the years they go to a different height – in breadth.

Replenishing stocks

Why does excess body weight accumulate due to afternoon lying down? The fact is that glucose, which enters the body as part of simple and complex carbohydrates during meals, is the main source of energy for cells, especially the brain.

“Part of glucose is immediately consumed for energy needs, part is transformed into glycogen – a mobile supply of glucose in the liver and muscles, which is necessary to maintain its normal level in the blood. And all the excess is quickly converted into fatty acids and accumulated in fat depots and the liver in the form of triglycerides,” the nutritionist explained.

Moreover, this is a very important mechanism that has been debugged during evolution. In the event of hunger, fat reserves begin to be consumed. Thus, the body is provided with glucose – fuel for all cells. But, since hunger is practically not threatened by prosperous citizens, fat reserves are replenished and replenished. Therefore, all this adversely affects the figure and health of a person.

Get off the couch

Photo: depositphotos/terovesalainen

How can you save yourself from extra pounds? The main advice is not to lie down immediately after eating.

“In order to maximize the use of glucose and prevent it from turning into fat, light physical activity is necessary immediately after a meal. This does not mean that you need to run to the gym and pull iron. The best option is a walk. In this case, glucose will begin actively consumed by muscle tissue, fat reserves will not be replenished,” Olga Lushnikova emphasized.

But there are no rules without exceptions. Psychologist Olga Khabibulina noted that sometimes the body really needs an afternoon rest. For example, after strong experiences or heavy mental stress.

You also need to take into account the needs of the body and medical features – pressure, low iron levels, problems with the thyroid gland, and the like.

Olga Khabibulina

psychologist

Adults who cannot afford an afternoon nap should try other types of recreation – a walk in the fresh air, meditation or breathing exercises.

For the coming sleep

Doctors advise paying attention to late meals, after which people go to bed with a full stomach anyway. As for the evening meal, it should ideally be 3-4 hours before bedtime.

“It is better not to eat very spicy and salty foods, as well as sweets during dinner. It’s great if the evening menu includes vegetables and herbs (both fresh and thermally processed) and a protein dish – fish, seafood or legumes,” noted the expert.

After dinner, the doctor also recommends taking a walk or doing yoga and meditation practices. But intense exercise in the evening will do more harm than good, and can lead to insomnia and trigger anxiety.

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A nutritionist explained when a walk is more beneficial than sports

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A nutritionist explained when a walk is more beneficial than sports

A nutritionist explained when a walk is more beneficial than sports the right time, nutritionist Elena said in an interview with Sputnik radio … RIA Novosti, 10/27/2020

2020-10-27T04:260003

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health – society

elena solomatina

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MOSCOW, October 27 – RIA Novosti. In order to burn fat as actively as possible during regular walks, you need to choose the right time for this, nutritionist Elena Solomatina said in an interview with Sputnik radio. According to her, it is most effective to walk immediately after eating. After eating, a person wants to relax and lie down, but nutritionists consider this behavior erroneous and unhealthy. Elena Solomatina assures that if you follow the desires, then everything eaten will immediately be deposited in the form of fat, and if you go for a walk, the body will be cleansed. alcohol. This all happens because the movement accelerates metabolic processes, blood circulation in the body accelerates, the production of many enzymes is stimulated, food is digested faster and is not so actively deposited in fat, “the nutritionist told Sputnik radio. At the same time, Elena Solomatina especially emphasizes that this there should be a regular walk, not vigorous exercise.” For a normal, healthy body, it is better not to sit after eating in order to quickly use up energy and calories. Overeating and lying down on the sofa is not a good habit. If we eat normally, eat moderately, if we eat normal food and we don’t have any chronic diseases, then walking is always useful. It should not be hard sports in the gym. If you have eaten well and heartily, then you can’t immediately start doing some active sports, but walking at a normal pace won’t hurt,” Elena Solomatina said in an interview with Sputnik radio.0003

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society, health – society, elena solomatina

society, health – society, Elena Solomatina

MOSCOW, October 27 – RIA Novosti. In order to burn fat as actively as possible during ordinary walks, you need to choose the right time for this, nutritionist Elena Solomatina said in an interview with Sputnik radio. According to her, it is most effective to walk immediately after eating.

After eating, a person wants to relax and lie down, but nutritionists consider this behavior erroneous and unhealthy. Elena Solomatina assures that if you follow the desires, then everything eaten will immediately be deposited in the form of fat, and if you go for a walk, the body will be cleansed.

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“You can’t sit after eating, you must definitely go outside and try to burn the energy received. Alcohol is also well weathered. This all happens because the movement speeds up metabolic processes, blood circulation in the body accelerates, the production of many enzymes is stimulated, food is digested faster and less actively deposited in fat,” the nutritionist told Sputnik radio.

At the same time, Elena Solomatina especially emphasizes that it should be an ordinary walk, and not active physical exercises.

“For a normal, healthy body, it is better not to sit after eating in order to quickly use up energy and calories. Overeating and lying down on the sofa is not a good habit. If we eat normally, eat moderately, eat normal food and we do not have any chronic diseases, then a walk is always useful. It should not be hard playing sports in the gym. If you have eaten well and heartily, you can’t immediately start doing any active sports, but walking at a normal pace won’t hurt,” Elena Solomatina said in radio interview Sputnik.