Beverages that are not recommended to drink on an empty stomach.
We often think about the impact of certain foods on our bodies, but we are much more relaxed about drinks. What harm can come from a cup of tea or a glass of juice? However, some beverages reveal their beneficial or harmful properties only in combination with many factors: food intake, time of day, and health status. Consuming a familiar drink on an empty stomach can lead to unpleasant sensations and increase the risk of certain diseases.
Strong Tea
Both green and black teas are rich in antioxidants and have many positive health benefits: they reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, aid in weight loss and lower cholesterol levels, possess antimicrobial effects, and support mental activity.
But what happens if you drink it on an empty stomach? Tea contains tannins — tannic substances. When consumed on an empty stomach, tannins can cause nausea. The stronger the drink, the higher the tannin content, and the more discomfort it may cause. It is better to drink tea not immediately after eating, but after some time — about half an hour to an hour.
Important:
If you have iron deficiency, you should reduce your tea consumption. Tannins decrease the absorption of iron in the gastrointestinal tract.
Coffee
Coffee is also rich in antioxidants and has many positive effects: it improves brain function, increases concentration, and enhances mood. Coffee may prevent the development of type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases — for example, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
It has been proven that coffee stimulates gastric juice secretion. Therefore, there is an opinion that drinking coffee on an empty stomach is not advisable for those with irritable bowel syndrome or gastric ulcers, as excess gastric juice can damage the stomach lining, causing heartburn and nausea.
However, there are no studies confirming the negative impact of coffee on health. Practice shows that the reaction to coffee is individual for each person. There are even genetic traits that affect how coffee is absorbed and eliminated from the body. Some people can drink a double espresso on an empty stomach without feeling anything, while others suffer from heartburn even after a mild latte made from light roast. So the simplest solution is to listen to your feelings.
Important:
Like strong tea, coffee worsens the absorption of minerals by the body, so it is better to take a break between consuming healthy food and having a cup of coffee.
Freshly Squeezed Fruit Juices
Fruit juices are rich in vitamins and antioxidants and can be very beneficial for health in moderate amounts. Take pomegranate juice, for example — it contains a powerful dose of antioxidants. They protect the body from the effects of free radicals, some types of cancer, reduce inflammatory processes, and have antiviral effects.
Fruit juices contain simple sugars, such as glucose and fructose. For example, a glass of pomegranate juice contains about 34 g of sugar, and such a dose on an empty stomach can cause a sharp increase in blood glucose levels. In this case, the pancreas will have to quickly produce a large amount of insulin to promptly lower the glucose levels in the blood.
As a result, this leads to so-called "sugar swings," or glycemic variability. Some studies indicate that these "swings" are no less dangerous than consistently high blood glucose levels. Such spikes in glucose increase the risks of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and weight gain. Therefore, it is better to drink a little fruit juice along with meals or immediately after.
Important:
"Sugar swings" can be caused by any drinks with added sugar (compotes, fruit drinks, sweet teas, packaged juices) consumed on an empty stomach. They usually contain nothing beneficial for the body — only sugar. So it is better to not only exclude them from consumption on an empty stomach but also remove them from your diet altogether.
Alcohol
Consuming alcohol on an empty stomach amplifies its toxic effects on the body. Drinking a glass or two on an empty stomach lowers blood glucose levels — this is called hypoglycemia. Its symptoms include irritability, dizziness, body tremors, and acute hunger, often leading to overeating.
Alcoholic beverages are better consumed an hour after eating or alongside food. Food slows the absorption of alcohol into the small intestine, where it is absorbed, thereby reducing all negative effects and facilitating the elimination of toxins from the body. It is also helpful to drink alcohol with plain water to ease the body's "processing" of it.
Important:
Alcohol also irritates the stomach lining, leading to exacerbation of existing digestive problems and the emergence of new ones. An alcoholic cocktail with soda is the worst thing someone with a stomach ulcer or gastritis in an acute phase can consume.
So What Should You Drink?
An infallible option that will bring you only benefits is plain water without gas. Why do we need water?
Water is a conductor of nutrients and oxygen to the cells of the body. A sufficient amount of water in the body helps maintain high energy levels, physical and mental activity, normal temperature, and pressure.
With water, our body eliminates toxins, the intestines and all excretory systems function properly, and sweating is normalized.
Water is the key to skin hydration and elasticity, its stable renewal, and attractive appearance. About 70% of the mass of each cell in the body is made up of water, and it is necessary to constantly maintain this volume to prevent dehydration.
Leave a comment