Publication date: June 21, 2022
Do you like to lie down after a meal? That doesn’t seem so good. Why not? And which body position actually helps digestion?
Seated food
We generally eat seated, at the table. That’s for the better. From Canadian research (in English) it turns out that this posture while eating helps your stomach, intestines and overall digestion. When you eat sitting down, your body can focus completely on digestion. As a result, your stomach empties faster and you better absorb important nutrients. So eating lying down is not a good idea, but what if you want to lie down after eating the meal?
Lighouding
According to Peyton Berookim, one of the best-known gastroenterologists in the United States, it is better not to do it. He tells the American lifestyle website Well+Good that if you slump or lie down after eating, there is a chance that the food will rise again. However, this time the food contains suchhours from the stomach† This is also known as reflux. In a lying position you therefore counteract the natural course of digestion. This can cause you to experience a burning sensation in your throat and/or chest, a sour taste in your mouth or belching, the expert explains. The reflux can also irritate your airways, causing you to cough.
It is therefore not a good idea to lie down after dinner. But how long should you wait until you can lie down on the couch? The doctor advises to hold on for at least 30 minutes. Do you want to lie down straight after a meal? Then you can put a number of pillows under your back, so that you still sit as upright as possible.
More trouble with diseases
Do you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or a condition such as a diaphragmatic rupture? In that case, according to Berookim, it is extra important that you do not lie down after eating. You can then suffer from the above complaints extra quickly.
(Sources: Canadian Science Publishing, Well + Good, Margriet / Photo: Shutterstock)
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