Five things you should ‘never’ consume on an empty stomach

The proverb “an empty stomach is a devil’s workshop” emphasizes the significance of eating a balanced diet and providing your body with healthy meals. Similar to this, it’s important to know which foods to eat and which to avoid, especially when doing so while you’re hungry. Even though certain foods normally make you feel bad if you don’t eat them after meals, there are some foods that upset your body’s natural balance if you consume them before meals. So here is a list of five things that you should never eat or drink before a meal. 

1. Sugary Foods: Sugary snacks are typically thought of as things like candy bars and bags of flavoured chips that are loaded with sugar. But when consumed on an empty stomach, this sweet dish becomes much more unhealthy. The body swiftly breaks down unhealthy sugars, but is unable to metabolise and digest them, which causes a lack of glucose and a sudden rise in insulin levels. This causes indigestion, upset stomach, and a considerable drop in energy levels. 

2. Spicy Foods: Eating spicy food on a daily basis is not recommended. Consumption of any food item containing a considerable amount of pepper or spices can cause gas, bloating, and indigestion even when not done so on an empty stomach. However, the acidic and pungent components may burn the delicate stomach lining if consumed on an empty stomach, leading to stomach ulcers and other digestive issues. 

3. Alcohol: Drinking alcohol while ingesting food on an empty stomach is definitely not advised. Alcohol is known to aggravate stomach lining irritation and increase stomach acid production, which results in an acidic environment in the digestive tract and causes nausea and indigestion. Alcohol is therefore best consumed after meals or ideally with a light snack. 

4. Citrus Fruits: Citrus fruits, such lemons, oranges, and limes, are a wonderful addition to our diet because they are a fantastic source of essential micronutrients. Despite the fact that a glass of freshly squeezed lime juice might be a terrific morning pick-me-up, it shouldn’t be regarded as a regular habit, especially when consumed on an empty stomach. This is due to the fact that strong citrus flavors may immediately impact the stomach walls when consumed on an empty stomach, creating a hostile acidic environment that may result in heartburn and cramps. 

5. Pickles: If consumed after meals, pickles might almost be viewed as a healthy snack. When consumed on an empty stomach, these salty delicacies should definitely be avoided. This is due to the fact that the salt in pickles disrupts the digestive tract and may result in digestive discomforts including bloating, indigestion, and even constipation and/or diarrhoea.

Overall, we can draw the conclusion that eating certain foods on an empty stomach can frequently be counterproductive. Eating while you are empty can disrupt your body’s balance and increase your risk of digestive issues. Therefore, it is best to avoid eating anything with a high sugar, spice, or acidic content while you are hungry. Pickles, lime, wine, and similar foods should also not be consumed because they may cause serious abdominal discomfort.