Most people know that the best thing to do when you eat is to lay down and rest after a meal. There are many benefits to doing this, including less bloating and gas, increased digestion, and even weight loss. But there’s one big problem with this advice: Some experts say that it’s not always necessary to lay down after every meal. What should you do if you don’t feel tired? Should you still lay down after eating? Here are some experts’ opinions on this topic.
Should you lay down after eating
It’s not always necessary to lay down after every meal if you don’t feel tired. You should only lay down if you’re feeling lightheaded or dizzy. Some people say the best thing to do is lay down after a meal, while others say it’s not necessary for them. If you are just not tired, then there is no need to lay down.
The Benefits Of Laying Down After A Meal
1. Reduces bloating and gas
When you lie down after eating, your digestive system slows down so that food can be digested and absorbed into your bloodstream. This will help reduce bloating and gas two things that have been linked to low energy levels.
2. Less stomach pain
If you feel stomach pain after a meal, it’s likely because food is not being digested properly. Your stomach may feel irritated when this happens. If you don’t feel tired, then it might be a good idea to lay down for a little while after a meal to let the food digest more easily without straining your body too much.
3. More digestive enzymes in your system
When you eat, the cells in your mouth begin to break down the food by secreting digestive enzymes into the saliva in your mouth. These enzymes help break down the food and prepare it for digestion in the small intestine so that it can be absorbed by your cells and enter into circulation.
Food is broken down by enzymes in the mouth and small intestine, but if you don’t have enough enzymes to break down the food, it will pass through your body without being digested. This can lead to gas, bloating, and indigestion.
4. Better blood circulation
When you lie down after eating, blood circulation improves because blood flow is redirected from the stomach and intestines to your arms and legs for movement. This allows more oxygenated blood flow throughout your body so that it reaches all of the cells in your body where it can be used for energy production.
5. Reduces stress
If you feel stressed when you’re not feeling tired, then laying down may reduce some of that stress because lying down allows you to relax and forget about the stress you may be feeling.
6. Improves digestion
When you lie down, your digestive system begins to work more efficiently. This will help improve digestion and aid in the absorption of nutrients from the food that is digested by enzymes.
7. Reduces muscle tension
If you’re feeling muscle tension after a meal, it’s likely because too much food is being absorbed into your bloodstream at once instead of being digested properly in your stomach and small intestine. Lying down will help relieve some of this muscle tension because it allows blood flow to be redirected away from your stomach and intestines so that blood can flow throughout your body where it can be used for energy production instead of energy production within the stomach and intestines.
Should You Lay Down After Every Meal?
- Some experts say that you should lay down after every meal, while others say it’s not necessary to follow this advice. Dr. Josh Axe, a health and fitness expert, says that there are some good reasons to follow the rule of laying down after eating:
- “It helps with digestion and helps with bloating and gas. It also helps your muscles relax and recover faster between meals.”
- – “If you’re someone who has a hard time sitting still for long periods of time, then going to sleep after a meal may be more beneficial in terms of reducing the chances of feeling restless or anxious.”
- – “You might find it helpful if you want to lose weight because when you lay down after dinner, your body turns off the production of insulin.”
- If you don’t feel tired, there are other ways to improve your digestion and ways to avoid bloating or gas. Dr. Josh Axe suggests taking magnesium supplements before bed or eating probiotics before bed as well as drinking unsweetened kefir or coconut water before bed. Also, try adding more fiber into your diet like psyllium husk powder in place of white bread or cereal for breakfast.
Experts’ Opinions On The Topic
Dr. Tara Gidus, a board-certified gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, says that it’s best to lie down after eating only if you need a nap or are feeling tired. This is because sitting up when you’re not feeling tired can cause bloating and gas build-up. She also says that people who are in cardiopulmonary exercise training should avoid lying down for thirty minutes after each meal. If you don’t feel any effects from lying down after eating, then there’s no reason to do so.
The Problem With The Advice To Lay Down
- It’s not always necessary to lay down after every meal
There are many benefits of laying down after a meal, but it is not always necessary to do so.
- You might get too relaxed and fall asleep
You might get too relaxed when lying down and falling asleep, especially if you are older.
- It can cause gas and bloat
Some people report that they get too relaxed when laying down and feel bloated or have gas after eating. Some experts also say that it’s not good for the digestive system to lie down too long after eating because it can lead to constipation and other problems with digestion.
- You might lose weight by sleeping longer or lying down
Some experts say that when you sleep longer or lie down, you will lose weight because your body doesn’t burn calories as efficiently while you are asleep. However, there is no solid evidence that this is true except for anecdotal evidence from people who claim to have lost weight by sleeping longer or lying down.
- You might be more likely to get sick by sleeping longer or lying down
Some experts say that you might be more likely to get sick by sleeping longer or lying down because you are less active while you are asleep and may not get enough exercise. However, there is no evidence that this is true.
Conclusion
Health experts often recommend laying down for some time after eating to allow your body to digest properly. The best advice for you to remember is to take 2-3 hours after eating to lay down and get some rest. This will give your digestive system time to work the food into your body and allow the body to heal any damage that was caused by the food.