Published By: Ipsita Jha

Eight Foods you should avoid on an empty stomach

Whatever we like cannot be eaten by us in the morning on an empty stomach. Here we have listed down foods that you should never have on an empty stomach.

Eating healthy food at the right time is crucial to maintain good health. Some foods may be good for health, but if you are eating them at the wrong time, it can cause more damage than good.

Check these eight foods that you must not consume on an empty stomach to protect your digestive system and gut health.

  1. Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits are packed with multiple fruits acids and high amount of Vitamin C. But, if you consume citrus fruits on an empty stomach it may increase the acid production in the stomach which may lead to heartburn, allergies, gastritis, even ulcers. These fruits also have high fibre and fructose content that can slow down your digestive system, especially if you consume fruits like guava and oranges on an empty stomach. So, it is better to avoid citrus fruits on an empty stomach.
  1. Banana
Banana is a great diet food as long as they are not consumed on an empty stomach.  It is a rich source of potassium and magnesium and helps to keep your appetite in control and relieves constipation. Consumption of bananas on an empty stomach may lead an imbalance of magnesium and potassium in the blood and increase pressure on the cardiovascular system.
  1. Sweets & Chocolates
Processed foods like sweets and chocolates have high sugar content and are loaded with many artificial sweeteners that are extremely unhealthy for the body. These sugary foods, when consumed on an empty stomach, can destroy the acid-base balance in the body, overload the pancreas to produce more insulin and may lead to liver damage. It is better to skip these high sugar content foods on an empty stomach.
  1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are packed with several nutrients, and high amounts of Vitamin C and are suitable for consumption in lunch or dinner but not for breakfast. Tomatoes also contain tannic acid which when comes in contact with the gastric juices inside the stomach could cause acidity leading to stomach irritation and sometimes gastric ulcers in severe cases.
  1. Coffee
Many of us begin our day with a cup of coffee, but drinking coffee on an empty stomach may lead to acidity. Coffee stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid in the gut leading to the problem of heartburn and indigestion throughout the day. So, starting your day with a hot cup of coffee is not a good idea.
  1. Aerated Drinks
Aerated drinks contain carbonated acids mixes which are bad for the stomach, and it is recommended to avoid their consumption altogether. Drinking these drinks on an empty stomach may damage the lining of the stomach and can cause stomach discomfort, irritation, acidity, increase blood sugar levels and difficulty in digestion.
  1. Spicy Food
Eating spicy food on an empty stomach in the morning may damage the stomach lining and lead to stomach irritation and cause heartburn and stomach discomfort due to the excessive production of the gastric juices in the stomach. To protect your gut health, you need to avoid oily and spicy food in your breakfast completely.
  1. Yoghurt & milk products
Yoghurt and dairy products contain many beneficial bacteria that are good for gut health. If they are consumed on an empty stomach, these bacteria are destroyed by the gastric juices and fail to provide any benefits.