Dr. Priti Jain, a gastroenterologist at Apollo Spectra Hospital Delhi (India) - said that sleeping right after dinner can be an unhealthy habit.
“This habit can lead to reflux of stomach contents into the oesophagus and we can also experience sudden weight gain,” says Dr Priti Jain, adding that continuing this habit can also affect your sleep.
Dr. Priti Jain analyzed and pointed out some harmful effects of this habit, including:
Increased risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
When you lie down right after a meal, gravity no longer assists in helping food move down to the stomach. This leads to the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus, causing heartburn, burning pain in the chest and throat, and can even lead to esophageal ulcers if this condition persists.
Affects digestion
When you go to sleep, your digestion slows down because your body can't process food as efficiently while lying down. This can cause food to not be fully digested, leading to feelings of fullness, indigestion, or even dyspepsia.
Weight gain
If you go to bed right after eating, your body has less opportunity to use the energy from the meal. Food that is not digested and converted into energy can easily be stored as fat, increasing the risk of weight gain.
Poor sleep
Eating a big meal before bed can leave you feeling uncomfortable and unable to sleep well. The stomach working to digest the food can cause pain or a feeling of fullness, disrupting sleep.
Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Some studies have shown that going to bed after eating a full meal may increase your risk of heart disease. This may be related to the body not fully digesting food, leading to increased levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and blood vessel problems.
Increased risk of diabetes
Eating and then going to bed can leave your body without enough time to use the energy from food, leading to persistently high blood sugar levels after meals. Over time, this can contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.
Therefore, Dr. Priti Jain offers some tips to break the habit of sleeping right after eating, including:
You should wait at least 2-3 hours after eating before going to bed to give your body time to digest food.
If you feel hungry before bed, choose foods that are easy to digest, such as fruit or yogurt.
Maintain a healthy diet and exercise to help your digestive system function better.
