Often people eat something on an empty stomach in the morning due to lack of information, due to which their entire routine can be affected. If you keep the first meal of the morning healthy, it helps in digesting your whole day’s food items. Often you must have seen people waking up in the morning and drinking juice, but doing so is not really healthy. There are many healthy options that you can start your day by eating.
Eating healthy in the morning helps in controlling weight loss, healthy digestion and many other health related problems. Today, with Health Shots, we will know which foods you can eat on an empty stomach in the morning and which foods can be harmful for you.
Nutritionist and wellness consultant Neha Sahaya has told through an Instagram post that which foods should not be eaten on an empty stomach in the morning, as well as which foods can be beneficial for us in the morning (first meal to stay healthy).
Do not eat these foods on an empty stomach
1. Sugar and Rice Syrup
Most people take it on an empty stomach, as they believe it helps burn fat. However, honey has more calories than sugar and also has a higher glycemic index. It is very difficult to get pure honey without any adulteration and most people consume sugar and rice syrup in the name of honey. This spikes your blood sugar levels, resulting in cravings for overeating throughout the day. If you have raw honey then only include it in your morning diet.
2. Citrus Fruits
Fruits get digested very quickly as compared to other food items. This makes us hungry within an hour. On the other hand, eating sour fruits on an empty stomach can cause acidity. Citrus fruits contain many important vitamins, minerals and fiber. But still it is advised to avoid them on an empty stomach. Consuming fruits like orange, kiwi, pineapple, the amount of fiber and fructose present in them slows down your metabolism, which can lead to digestive problems.
3. Tea and Coffee
Consuming tea or coffee on an empty stomach produces stomach acid and this can unbalance your stomach and cause digestive problems. Its use causes problems like bloating, constipation, heartburn. That’s why you should eat something before drinking tea and coffee in the morning and try to avoid tea and coffee.
4. Take salty instead of sweet in breakfast
Salty snacks are ideal for maintaining your blood sugar levels. It is perfect for those who pay attention to their fitness. Protein and fat based morning meal helps in reducing hunger for the whole day. In this case, you do not overeat.
Sugary snacks can spike your blood sugar level or drop it rapidly, making you more hungry, cravings especially for carbs, and a drop in energy.
5. Spicy Food
Consuming spicy food on an empty stomach in the morning can cause burning sensation in your stomach. At the same time, it causes various types of digestive problems, especially heartburn and abdominal pain. At the same time, you may feel uncomfortable throughout the day.
Consuming these food sources on an empty stomach will be beneficial
1. Yogurt
Starting your day with yogurt can be a good idea. Probiotics are found in plenty in it, which are very beneficial for your digestive system and immune system. By consuming these, your digestion process remains balanced throughout the day, as well as they provide you with enough energy from inside.
2. Papaya
If you are suffering from piles and constipation then consuming papaya regularly can be extremely beneficial for you. This eases the process of having a bowel movement in the morning. Consuming papaya on an empty stomach keeps the digestion process balanced and cholesterol level is also controlled, thus reducing the risk of heart related diseases.
3. Oatmeal
Consuming oatmeal can be very beneficial in digestive problems such as constipation, indigestion etc. You can take it regularly in the empty breakfast in the morning. This helps in removing the toxin accumulated in the body. A limited amount of calories is found in it, so it can also prove to be a healthy option for weight loss. At the same time, oatmeal is a good source of fiber, which helps in maintaining digestive health for a long time.
4. Vegetable Juice
Often people drink fruit juice on an empty stomach in the morning, consumption of fruit juice on an empty stomach can be extremely harmful for health. That’s why one should always start the day with vegetable juice. Morning juice can include some green vegetables, carrot, beetroot, cucumber, mint, coriander leaves etc.
This can be a great option especially for women, as it is very beneficial for keeping the stomach clean as well as for the health of the skin. The vitamins and antioxidants present in vegetables make them special for you. Along with this, if you want to take vitamin C, then you can squeeze tomato and lemon juice in your vegetable juice.
5. Soaked Almonds
Soak almonds containing important nutrients in water overnight, by doing this its quality increases more. According to the study published by the National Library of Medicine, almonds contain sufficient amounts of magnesium, vitamin E, omega 3, omega 6 fatty acids, protein and fiber which fulfill the nutritional deficiency in the body. However, keep in mind that before eating it, peel it off.