Lying Down After Eating? Here’s Why You Should Think Twice

We’ve all heard the old saying, “Lie down right after eating, and you’ll turn into a cow.” It’s tempting to hit the couch after a big meal, but hold up! That post-dinner nap might be doing more harm than good. Let’s determine why lounging after lunch could mess with your health.

First, lying down after eating is rolling out the red carpet for acid reflux. Your lower esophageal sphincter (the fancy term for the muscle between your esophagus and stomach) is supposed to keep stomach acid where it belongs.

When you eat or burp, this muscle briefly opens up. However, that sphincter gets lazy if you go horizontal too soon after chowing down. Next thing you know, you’ve got a burning sensation in your chest, and hello, acid reflux!

But wait, there’s more! Hitting the hay right after dinner can also lead to a back-up situation. When you lie down, your digestive system slows to a crawl, and gravity isn’t doing you any favors in moving things along.

And if you’re prone to dozing off after dinner, you might be in for an unwelcome surprise on the scale. While catching Z’s, your body isn’t burning calories like it should, and that food in your stomach will likely become unwanted padding.

So, what’s a food lover to do? Give yourself at least two hours of upright time after eating. That’s how long it takes for your stomach to ship that meal to your small intestine.

If you must lie down, wait at least 30 minutes and prop yourself up at a 15-degree angle. Your digestive system will thank you.

And while we’re talking healthy habits, try to leave about three hours between your last bite and bedtime. Oh, and about that after-dinner coffee? You might want to rethink that, too. It could be flushing out all those good nutrients you just ate.

Here’s the scoop: the caffeine in your latte can seriously mess with iron absorption. When iron and coffee tannins meet, they form a party-pooping duo that can cut your iron absorption in half.

Let’s not forget that iron is the VIP when it comes to getting oxygen throughout your body. Skimp on iron, and you might feel wiped out and anemic.