My stomach gets damaged without me even realizing it... I need to break this 'habit' starting today

When you have indigestion, you may drink a refreshing carbonated beverage. Carbonated drinks help with the expulsion of food from the stomach, but this is only a temporary effect. Habitually drinking carbonated beverages because of indigestion can actually lead to digestive problems. Carbonated drinks weaken the function of the sphincter that connects the esophagus and the stomach. When the sphincter weakens, stomach acid can reflux into the esophagus, hindering digestion. Especially for people who already have gastrointestinal issues, it is better to avoid carbonated drinks. Sparkling water is also the same.

Milk for stomach ache

Many people think that milk protects the stomach. However, the calcium in milk can actually increase stomach acid secretion when consumed on an empty stomach, worsening heartburn. The protein in milk, casein, turns into a jelly-like substance when it encounters stomach acid. To digest and absorb it, the stomach secretes more acid. When experiencing heartburn, drinking a glass of warm water is better than milk.

Coffee on an empty stomach

Many people wake up in the morning and immediately look for coffee. The caffeine in coffee increases stomach acid levels and stimulates acid secretion. When stomach acid is secreted without any food in the stomach, it can irritate the stomach lining and cause inflammation. Caution is needed as this can lead to conditions such as gastritis, gastric ulcers, and reflux esophagitis.

Soaking rice in water

When you have no appetite, you may eat rice by mixing it with water or soup. While it may be easy to swallow rice immediately, this is ultimately an action that hinders digestion. The first step of digestion is for saliva and food to be well mixed in the mouth, and for the food to be chewed with teeth into small pieces. However, when you eat rice by mixing it with water, the food quickly passes into the esophagus, reducing the process of being broken down by saliva, and the degree of being broken into small pieces also decreases. Additionally, the digestive juices in the stomach become diluted with water, which decreases digestive efficiency.

Taking a nap after lunch

If you believe that taking a short nap after lunch relieves fatigue, stop. Lying down within 30 minutes after a meal can cause digestive disorders. Since the movement of food slows down, it can lead to various symptoms such as fullness, bloating, chest pain, and belching. Especially, lying down immediately after eating can cause acid reflux, leading to reflux esophagitis. When food is still in the stomach, sleeping does not allow the brain to rest, so it does not effectively relieve fatigue.