In my career as a doctor, I have encountered a wide variety of patients and different health concerns. Once, a middle-aged male patient came to my clinic in a hurry, pale and complained that he felt a feeling of heaviness and dull pain in his stomach. After some questioning, I learned that he had eaten a large plate of sliced tomatoes on an empty stomach in the morning, thinking that it would "cleanse" his stomach, but it turned out to be counterproductive.
This made me realize that many people have misconceptions about "what you can't eat on an empty stomach". For example, many people think that milk, bananas, and persimmons should not be eaten on an empty stomach, but these foods are safe in most cases. Through this experience, I believe that it is necessary to disseminate some correct dietary knowledge to help people avoid unnecessary physical discomfort caused by eating certain foods by mistake.
Common misconceptions: Can milk, bananas, and persimmons not be eaten on an empty stomach?
In everyday life, we often hear warnings about certain foods that cannot be eaten on an empty stomach, especially milk, bananas, and persimmons. Many people worry that these foods may cause discomfort or other health problems on an empty stomach. But is this information accurate? Let's break it down.
Milk
It has long been believed that drinking milk on an empty stomach can cause stomach upset. However, from a scientific point of view, milk is higher in protein and fat, and these components can actually help buffer stomach acid and reduce the irritation of the stomach lining on an empty stomach. Therefore, for most people, drinking milk on an empty stomach is not only harmless, but may have some protective effect on the stomach. Of course, for lactose intolerant people, drinking milk can be uncomfortable at any time.
banana
Bananas are another food that is often misunderstood. Some people say that eating bananas on an empty stomach can cause stomach pain or a surge in blood sugar. In fact, bananas are rich in potassium and other easily digestible carbohydrates, and while it is true that they can raise blood sugar quickly, this rapid blood sugar rise is manageable for most healthy people. Unless you're diabetic or extremely sensitive to blood sugar levels, it's safe to eat some bananas in moderation.
Kakiko
Regarding persimmons, there are many theories that eating them on an empty stomach may cause stomach stones. Persimmons contain high levels of tannins and tannic acid, especially those that are not fully ripe. These ingredients may react with stomach acid in an empty state, increasing the risk of stomach stones (gastrolithiasis). Therefore, it is indeed advisable to avoid consuming large amounts of persimmons, especially those that are not fully ripe, on an empty stomach.
Foods that really can't be eaten on an empty stomach
Let's take a look at which foods are best avoided on an empty stomach:
Tomatoes: Contain a lot of tannic acid and fruit acid, and eating them on an empty stomach can easily cause stomach discomfort and excessive stomach acid.
Cucumbers: Raw cucumbers contain alkaloids, which may irritate the stomach lining and cause discomfort when eaten on an empty stomach.
Green tea: While green tea has numerous health benefits, high levels of tannic acid may cause excess stomach acid and stomach upset if consumed on an empty stomach.
Fruits and sweets high in sugar: These foods can cause a sharp increase in blood sugar when eaten on an empty stomach, which is not good for health in the long term.
Alcohol: Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can speed up alcohol absorption, causing more damage to the liver.
How to arrange a healthy diet
To avoid discomfort on an empty stomach, it is advisable to mix proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, which will reduce the burden on the stomach. At the same time, arrange the time of three meals reasonably to avoid an empty stomach for too long.
By understanding these foods that are easy to cause discomfort, I hope that everyone can arrange their daily diet more scientifically and protect their stomach. Food choices are equally important, and the right eating habits are the cornerstone of maintaining good health. Remember, eat right, live healthily!