After dinner, wait for at least one-half hour and then drink a glass of warm water. Slightly warm water helps helps break down the food in your stomach and aids digestion. This helps the body absorb nutrients.
Experts recommend waiting at least three hours after you've eaten to go to bed. This allows your body time to digest your food so you're not up at night with an upset stomach, indigestion, or acid reflux. And it helps you stay asleep. Don't forego a meal to follow this rule.
It is recommended that you stop eating about three hours before you plan to go to bed. This will give your body enough time to properly digest the food you have eaten without disrupting your sleep, but also allowing time to notice any symptoms of acid reflux or any other digestion related irritation.
Digestion benefits and left-side sleeping
However, the location of the stomach is a clue. The stomach's natural position is on the left side, where it can digest food more effectively. Gravity helps the waste travel from the small intestine to the large intestine.
Lying down after having a meal can slow down the process of digestion. It may also make you feel bloated and can lead to heartburn. Wait for at least 2 hours before going to the bed.
One of the simplest and most effective solutions is to take a walk right after eating; this will help stimulate the digestive processes in your body that pushes the food down your gastrointestinal tract. Do not run or jog, just stroll around for 15 minutes and you will feel better right after.
Stay Upright
Slouching or, even worse, lying down right after eating can encourage food to move back up and out of your stomach into your esophagus. Remaining upright and avoiding positions in which you're leaning back for two to three hours after a large meal will minimize the risk for heartburn, Dr. Saha advises.
It's important to drink enough water during the day, however, it can be disruptive if you drink directly before bed. Avoid drinking water or any other fluids at least two hours before sleeping to prevent waking up at night.
Get Meal Timing Right with RISE
There's no set time you should stop eating before bed, but as a guide, you should aim to have your last meal two to three hours before going to sleep. Avoid late-night meals, late-night snacking, and nighttime eating as much as possible.
Top Foods That Speed Up Digestion
Eating enough fiber is an essential step in promoting digestive health. Whole grains, such as brown rice and quinoa, and other foods like oatmeal, apples, and bananas are good sources; you should aim for at least 25 grams of fiber each day.
Heavy Foods
Meals which seem to weigh on your stomach actually take longer to digest. Fatty, cheesy and fried foods can lead to indigestion and keep you up at night. Avoid things like cheeseburgers, fries, fried foods and large steaks late in the day.
Ginger tea
"Some small studies have shown that ginger can hasten gastric emptying, which helps [prevent] indigestion," Schwarz says. This means enjoying a hot cup of ginger tea can help get the digestive process going a little quicker so your stomach isn't keeping you up while you're trying to sleep.
There's no concern that water thins down or weakens down (dilute) the digestive juices or interfere with digestion. In fact, drinking water during or after a meal helps how your body breaks down and processes food (digestion). Water is vital for good health.
Very light walking reduces blood sugar levels.
All seven studies showed that just a few minutes of light-intensity walking after a meal were enough to significantly improve blood sugar levels compared to, say, sitting at a desk or plopping down on the couch.
Aside from causing belly fat, eating late and reclining on a full stomach increases your risk of developing acid reflux and indigestion, since gravity is no longer able to pull everything in your tummy straight down.
Simply sitting
It is a common habit to sit and relax after having meals. This will make you gain weight. A Short walk for 15 to 20 minutes after having food increases metabolism. This also helps in digestion and prevents bloating.
Your body is most comfortable digesting food in an upright position, as it allows for easy digestion. Lying down immediately after eating a light meal for dinner can cause the stomach contents to reflux into the oesophagus, triggering symptoms of GERD and heartburn.
Based on research that shows eating two meals won't necessarily get you all the nutrients you need, though, I do recommend choosing three medium-size meals between 400 and 600 calories, plus one to three snacks at 150 to 200 calories per day for optimal nutrition and satiety.
Though going to bed hungry can help with sleep and weight loss, lack of access to food can actually increase your risk of obesity, asthma, and other health problems.