We often hear that a bath after meals is not good for digestion, Ayurveda even supports this. It is not just taking a bath after meals, experts say that certain other bathing habits, which are extremely common, have the potential to affect the digestive system and overall health.

Avoid These Mistakes Before Taking A Bath

Never Take Bath After Meals: After eating the body supplies more blood to the digestive tract to help in the digestion process, and taking the shower distracts the blood flow from the stomach and rushes it to the surface of the skin instead.

Drink Water Before Taking A Shower: Drink a glass of warm water before you go bathing, as it helps in regularizing blood pressure issues in the body. Drinking warm water before taking a bath warms your body from the inside, which results in the widening of the blood vessels.

Avoid Bath After Sunset: As our body starts to cool down after sunset, going for a bath (head bath also) in the evening, blocks the skin pores and traps the heat within resulting in a rise in body temperature and can disturb the sleep cycle.

Bath can also increase heart rate , which is uncomfortable for digestion.

People say that taking a bath or shower after a meal confuses your body because instead of that increased blood flow to your digestive tract, your body is experiencing hyperthermic action caused by the water.

Theoretically, this would slow down or interrupt your digestion, leading to sluggishness.

A meal with proteins, heavy fiber content, lots of fat, or refined carbohydrates may cause bloating as your body digests, creating a situation that puts pressure on your chest and causes cramps and heartburn.

How long should we wait to take a bath after a meal?

It is typically advised that up to 20 minutes after eating avoid bathing.

Can we take a cold bath after eating?

It might be bad for your digestion to take a hot water shower, but one way to play it on the safe side is to take a cold or lukewarm bath instead of a hot one.

Taking a cold shower doesn’t elevates your core temperature, and won’t divert blood flow from your digestive organs. As a bonus, cold shower may jump start your metabolism and may help you burn more fat from that meal you just ate.

What else should avoid around mealtime?

Of course, showering and bathing after a meal aren’t the only things that are anecdotally not so good for digestion. Some of the other activities we should avoid…..

Brushing teeth

Brushing your teeth after you eat can cover your teeth with particles of highly acidic foods. Instead of protecting your teeth with fluoride, you end up harming your enamel when you brush your teeth right after eating.

It’s best to wait 30 minutes or brush your teeth right when you wake up and right before going to sleep.

Sleep

Reclining right after you eat may not be good for the lining of your esophagus. You should wait until your body has had a chance to begin digestion and move the food into the intestines before you lie down in bed.

This will also help prevent reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus.

Exercise

Waiting at least 45 minutes to start your workout after a heavy meal is recommended, both for your workout and for your digestion.

Swimming

At the very least, it’s a possibility that you may experience discomfort and stomach cramping if you get in touch with water.

Analysis

Some common mistakes we should avoid after a meal to have complete digestion. We hope you liked this article implement these precautions, and be active without any digestive issues.