Sitting or lying still

According to Times of India, many people habitually sit watching television, scroll on their phones, or lie down immediately after dinner, maintaining these positions for extended periods. This can lead to bloating, gas, or indigestion for some individuals. Lying down right after eating also increases the risk of acid reflux, causing heartburn and acid regurgitation, and elevating blood sugar. Everyone should take a light walk or engage in relaxing activities for about 10-15 minutes after eating to aid digestion and better control blood sugar.

Drinking alcohol

Consuming alcohol after dinner can cause stomach acid to easily reflux into the esophagus, leading to heartburn, acid regurgitation, or a burning sensation in the chest. Alcohol also irritates the stomach lining, making some people prone to bloating and indigestion after eating.

Many believe that drinking alcohol helps them sleep well, but in reality, alcohol only induces initial drowsiness, then leads to restless, easily interrupted sleep. If this habit is maintained regularly, the body tends to take in excess energy, increasing the risk of weight gain, accumulation of visceral fat, and long-term health issues.

Showering

After dinner, the body needs to focus on digesting food. Therefore, a greater amount of blood is directed to the stomach and intestines to support this process. If you shower immediately, the digestive process can be affected, causing some people to feel bloated, experience indigestion, or feel fatigued after eating. You should rest after dinner and wait about 30-60 minutes before showering.

Showering immediately after dinner is not good for digestion. Photo created by AI

Drinking sugary beverages

After a meal, the body has already absorbed carbohydrates from food. If sugary drinks are consumed in addition, the sugar intake increases, causing blood sugar to spike. The body must then secrete more insulin to transport sugar into cells. Over time, this habit makes blood sugar control difficult, especially for individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Sugary drinks also provide many calories but offer almost no nutritional value, increasing total daily energy intake and, consequently, the risk of weight gain.

For carbonated soft drinks, the carbon dioxide can also make some people feel bloated, gassy, or uncomfortable after dinner. Instead of sugary drinks, you should drink plain water or beverages with little to no added sugar, according to Eating well.

Le Nguyen (compiled)