For some, there are so many things, in fact, that there is hardly time to squeeze in eating.
Apart from sometimes causing you the horrible symptoms of heartburn and indigestion, irregular eating can affect your health in other ways. Read on as we explain some of the effects of irregular eating through the day!
Skipping Breakfast
Eating breakfast replenishes our blood sugar and give us the vitamins and nutrients we need for the day ahead. Without our morning fuel, our bodies have less energy and our brains may find it hard to focus throughout the day. Skipping breakfast may also cause you to put on weight as although you might not be hungry at the time, the mid-morning hunger pangs could have you reaching for unhealthy, high-calorie snacks.
Quickly Eating Down Lunch
Whilst this is a very unhealthy habit to be in, it may seem like the only option for people with very busy schedules. Eating too fast can cause heartburn and indigestion as if you are not chewing your food properly, then more stomach acid is needed to help digest it later on. Also, when gulping your food down, you will swallow a lot of air which can also cause discomfort. Apart from this, you may overeat as it can take 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you are full.
Afternoon Grazing
Eating while on the phone, watching TV or reading an article online is not a good idea. It is important to pay attention to your body, your hunger and how much you have actually eaten as eating absent-mindedly can be a big factor in weight gain. This is because when you are not paying attention to what you are eating it’s harder for you to realise when you are actually satisfied and full - so there is a tendency to just keep going until it’s all gone. Apart from taking more notice of what and how much you are putting into your mouth, a great way to combat this is to avoid eating directly from a package and always pre-portion food so that when your portion is finished, you’ll have to stop eating.
Eating before Bed
Eating too much food before going to bed can interrupt sleep patterns leaving you feeling exhausted the next day. You should eat your last meal of the day three to four hours before you go to bed as our bodies are made to digest food in an upright position. Laying down too soon after eating could also be what causes your heartburn and ingestion as this position can allow the stomach acid to more easily rise back up towards the oesophagus causing that burning feeling in the chest.
Once you realise your bad eating habits, with a little bit of attention, they are easy to combat. Once you start to eat more regularly, you should start to enjoy food again and you may soon start to see your energy level increase as well! If you do feel a bout of heartburn or indigestion coming along, Gaviscon Double Action can help to relieve symptoms quickly, helping you to get on with your busy schedule.
All information presented is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. Gaviscon Double Action for heartburn and indigestion. Always read the label. Suitable from 12 years old. If symptoms are severe or prolonged you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Article published 1 January 2020
