What are some good eating habits? Six things to do in your diet and good eating habits.

107. What are some good eating habits?

People often lower their standards for daily diet due to the fast pace of life, with many only satisfying their basic cravings while neglecting proper nutritional balance. A hamburger, a cola, a fast food meal, and a bottle of water may temporarily fool our stomachs, but over time, our digestive system will eventually "protest."

To err is human, to forgive divine. If you know you have some bad eating habits, you should correct them in time to maintain your most precious health. Below are some good eating habits.

Six things to do in your diet

Eat slowly: Eating too quickly will increase the burden on your stomach. Chewing slowly is very beneficial for digestion.

Breakfast should be eaten early: After a night's sleep, the stomach and intestines become empty. Eating something in the morning can help to invigorate the body, so breakfast should be eaten early.

A light diet is recommended: one should not overindulge in any of the five flavors in their diet; eating more light flavors is beneficial to health.

Less is more: Although the human body needs to obtain the nutrients it needs through diet, overeating can still harm health.

Soft food is best: Hard food is the hardest to digest, and undercooked meat is more likely to hurt the stomach, especially for men with poor digestion, who often get sick as a result. Therefore, food should be cooked thoroughly before eating.

Warmth is beneficial: The stomach prefers warmth and dislikes cold. One should eat less raw and cold food and more warm food, as this is conducive to the digestion and absorption of food by the stomach and intestines.

Good eating habits

Drinking soup before meals. We are generally used to eating first and then drinking some soup. However, Western countries prefer to drink soup first and then eat the main course. So, which of these two eating habits is more scientific and reasonable? From a scientific and hygienic point of view, it is better to drink some soup before eating. This is because if you feel very hungry and eat immediately, it will greatly stimulate your stomach, and over time, it can easily lead to stomach problems or indigestion. Drinking some soup before eating is similar to an athlete warming up before a race; it can activate the entire digestive system, stimulate the secretion of gastric juices, and prepare the stomach for eating. In this way, the stimulation to an empty stomach is greatly reduced, effectively protecting the stomach.

They enjoy bitter foods. Bitter foods not only contain terpenes, alkaloids, and inorganic compounds, but also certain amino acids and sugars. The amino acids in bitter foods are essential amino acids for the human body, which can regulate the function of the nervous system and help people achieve a relaxed state of mind.

What should you maintain while eating?

Talking while eating. Traditional custom holds that one shouldn't talk while eating, as it will affect the digestive system. However, this is somewhat of a misconception. It's best to keep meals to about half an hour. During this time, you can talk and chat with your fellow eaters, relieve stress, and allow your stomach to digest food normally. The reason is that a pleasant mood can not only increase appetite but also stimulate the central nervous system, thereby promoting the secretion of gastric juices and putting the digestive system in a better state.

Eating while standing is the most suitable posture for eating, while squatting is the worst. Squatting compresses the abdomen and legs, hindering blood flow and reducing the amount of blood returning to the heart. This affects the blood supply to the stomach, which needs a lot of blood at this time. Many common stomach problems are closely related to this eating posture. People often prefer to sit while eating, but this is not the most scientific posture; it's just more comfortable.

Pay attention to hygiene. Wash your hands before meals and do not eat rotten or spoiled food.

A cheerful mood is important. A good mood while eating promotes good blood circulation, increases appetite, strengthens the immune system, and improves digestion. Conversely, feeling depressed or stressed while eating can negatively impact appetite, affect normal blood circulation, reduce the function of the entire digestive system, and consequently lower the body's immunity.

Dietary principles

Eat a balanced diet. Avoid picky eating and unbalanced diets. Eat fruit between meals; eat melons and vegetables separately; drink soup before meals.

Eat at regular times and in fixed quantities. Regular meals allow the gastrointestinal tract to rest and motility regularly, which improves the digestion and absorption rate of food, maintains the function of the gastrointestinal tract in a better state, and reduces the chance of developing gastrointestinal diseases.

Chew slowly and thoroughly. Thorough chewing breaks food into smaller pieces and mixes it well with saliva for easier swallowing. Simultaneously, chewing reflexively stimulates the secretion of digestive juices such as pancreatic juice, gastric juice, and saliva, allowing for better digestion and absorption of food.

Moderation in diet. Moderation in diet can not only greatly reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, but also, because the body is in a semi-starved state, the immune system, endocrine system and autonomic nervous system will receive a beneficial stimulation, mobilizing the body's own regulatory functions, keeping the internal circulation balanced and stable, enhancing immunity, and balancing the inhibition and excitation of the nervous system, thereby improving the body's resistance to disease.

Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Eating less will lower the blood sugar level, naturally reducing the amount of insulin secreted by the body, which in turn lowers cholesterol levels and reduces body fat. However, it is important to note that no matter how many meals you eat, the total calories should not exceed the total amount of three meals a day.

Some people, even without drinking alcohol, frequently experience a state of "drunkenness" after eating, characterized by drowsiness and mental confusion. This is because when a person ingests too many carbohydrates, the glucose is converted into alcohol (ethanol) in the stomach. Once absorbed by the body, this alcohol causes a series of symptoms. To prevent "food intoxication," it's essential to break the habit of overeating.