Is it ok to eat dry fruits on empty stomach with digestive issues

Uppala Srikavya

3 weeks ago

Is it ok to eat dry fruits on empty stomach with digestive issues

Digestive issues

Happy Tummy Expert

3 weeks ago

Dear Uppala Thank You for the Question.

Kudos to you for taking the initiative on consuming dry fruits as they are excellent sources of various vitamins & minerals. It is always advised to consume them in moderation and can be consumed throughout the day in between your major meals, during your mid- morning or evening snacks, as a part of your diversified balanced diet. Nuts are known to have high concentrations of phytates, which can inhibit the absorption and reduce the bioavailability of several important micronutrients including zinc, iron, and calcium. Hence, soaking them prior to consumption may relatively reduce the phytate concentration in nuts.

However, if you are facing digestive issues while consuming them on empty stomach it is advised to consult a healthcare professional to understand the suitable timings and ways to consume them.

In order to improve your overall digestive system which involves a healthy lifestyle management including a good balanced diet, adequate hydration, regular physical activity and hygiene & stress management is key to maintain a good digestive health. It is also important to ensure adequate fiber intake which is essential for a healthy gut and overall digestive health.

Gut microbiota includes a diverse community of bacteria in human gut, they carry out various functions that influences our overall health. The functions include, nutrient metabolism, natural defense against infections and regulation of immune system.

For managing a healthy gut it is important to consume a diversified balanced diet at regular intervals, maintain hydration and include dietary fibre in your daily diet. It is also important to engage in regular physical activity and include prebiotic and probiotics in your daily diet Prebiotics are food components that confer benefits to the host by selectively stimulating the growth of beneficial gut microbiota whereas Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that incur positive effects on human health. They are present in the human gut and are also taken through food products such as yogurt, fermented foods, dietary supplements etc.

Prebiotics naturally exist in different foods including, asparagus, garlic, chicory, onion, honey, banana, barley, tomato, rye, soybean, cow’s milk, peas, beans, etc.

The common sources of probiotics are yogurt, cultured buttermilk and cheese. The other foods that are produced by bacterial fermentation are, tempeh, sauerkraut, sour dough, bread etc. Look for food products labelled ‘Probiotic’, ‘Probiotic food’, ‘Contains Probiotics’, ‘with Probiotics’ etc.

Daily RDA for fiber as per NIN, ICMR is: 25g per day for Female

Here are a few guidelines for general digestive health.

Do not skip your meals, have small frequent meals at regular intervals.
Eat a well-balanced diet including minimum 5 serving of vegetables and 1 serving of fruit in a day as they are good sources of fiber and essential nutrients such as vitamin A, Vitamin B, iron, zinc etc.
Include prebiotics such as banana, soyabean, garlic etc., good sources of probiotics like yogurt, buttermilk etc., to maintain a healthy gut.
Try to include whole grains like wheat, millets and multigrain in your diet as they are a good source of fiber and other nutrients.
Limit the intake of dairy and fiber in case of loose stools/diarrhea
Avoid large, heavy meals, and practice portion guidance.
Deep fried foods to be restricted. Method of cooking like baking, grilling, boiling, steaming is preferable over deep frying with excess fat/ oil.
Try to limit the foods like caffeine, spices, raw onions etc.
Food should be eaten slowly and chewed well as fast eating provokes gastric feeding reflex.
Avoid lying down immediately after your meal consumption
Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water per day
Have a gap of minimum 2-3 hours between bedtime and your last meal
Engage in physical activity for a minimum of 30-45 minutes for at least 5 days a week.
Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.