Starving? Believe it or not, consuming the wrong foods on an empty stomach can make matters worse, like give your heartburn, indigestion and more. So, in order to help you decide what to avoid (at all costs) and what to opt for instead on an empty stomach, keep scrolling.
AVOID
Yogurt
While some yogurts are packed with protein, they’re also packed with lactic acid bacteria. Consuming yogurt for breakfast (or any other time you have an empty stomach) can make the benefits of this bacteria ineffective.
Foods Containing Yeast
Foods like danishes and croissants - common on a continental breakfast menu - irritate the lining of the stomach and can create gas.
Processed Sugar
While we’re all aware that too much sugar is bad juju for the body, processed foods containing high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners can lead to liver damage. Sweets also boost insulin levels, in turn, increasing the load on the pancreas - a risk that may lead to diabetes. So, say bye, bye to those breakfast donuts!
Coffee
Drinking coffee (or tea) on an empty stomach increases acidity, which can cause heartburn and indigestion throughout the day.
Spicy Food
Spices can cause damage to the gastric mucosa, increasing acid production in your tummy. This can lead to common disorders of the digestive system.
Opt For
Fresh Fruit
Fruit is packed with vitamins, nutrients, fiber and water. Incorporating fruit into your diet, the proper way, reaps powerful benefits including improved digestion, loads of physical energy, boosts weight loss and so much more. Eaten on an empty stomach can aid in detoxing your system.
Oatmeal
Eating oatmeal on an empty stomach has several advantages. In addition to coating the lining of the stomach, preventing irritation from your bodiy's naturally occurring hydrochloric acid (HCL), oats are packed with much needed soluble fiber. Much like fresh fruit, this type of fiber aids in digestion. Did we mention oatmeal also lowers cholesterol?
Eggs
This breakfast staple offers a myriad of health benefits, including nutrients for boosting eye health, lowers triglycerides, AND they’re high in essential amino acids. Not to mention, they’re linked to reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. It’s important to know that eggs also tend to make you eat fewer calories, helping you lose weight.
Nuts
If eaten for breakfast, eggs improve your digestive health and normalize the pH in your stomach.
Honey
Honey helps wake you up and provides your system with tons of strength and energy. This sweet syrup also boosts brain activity and increases the level of the “feel-good” hormone serotonin, a natural mood stabilizer.