The Importance of Dining Order for Digestive Health in Chinese Cuisine

January 18, 2024

Chinese cuisine is well-known worldwide for its delicious flavors and emphasis on nutrition. However, it is worth mentioning the traditional dining habits in China: people generally eat their main dishes before drinking soup, followed by desserts and fruits. This dining order has rarely been questioned, but in fact, according to experts' research, this eating pattern does not align with the principles of health and is not beneficial for the human body.
 


 

With the continuous progress of medicine, research on gastrointestinal diseases has also deepened in recent years. Some medical and nutrition experts believe that our previous eating order may be incorrect. The order in which we eat different foods is important, and disrupting this order can potentially lead to gastrointestinal problems. The correct dining sequence should be: soup, vegetables, rice, meat, desserts, and then fruits after half an hour.

Why should soup be consumed before the main course? This is because a moderate amount of soup can warm up the stomach before a meal, without causing the hungry stomach to eat too much too quickly. Drinking soup after a meal will lower the concentration of gastric acid in the stomach, which can increase the burden on the digestive system. Therefore, it is not recommended to eat and drink soup at the same time, or to soak rice in soup. Additionally, it is best to avoid drinking water a few minutes before a meal.

It is also important to note that desserts should not be consumed immediately after a meal. This is because consuming desserts right after a meal can interrupt or hinder the digestion process, leading to food in the stomach easily decomposing and producing gastric gas, which can result in gastrointestinal diseases. The optimal time to eat desserts is about half an hour after a meal, which can aid in digestion.
 


 

Fruits are best consumed 20-40 minutes before a meal. Eating fruits during this time can effectively reduce the craving for fatty foods, indirectly preventing excessive fat accumulation in the body and contributing to weight loss.

Final Reminder:

The fast-paced work and life often make people neglect their meals. Some people may think that skipping a meal is not a big deal, but they forget that eating well is the guarantee and prerequisite for a healthy body. Our body is "1", and everything else is "0" behind it. Therefore, without a healthy body, we have nothing. Avoid consuming fast food and carbonated drinks, as these not only have no benefits for the body but can also cause inflammation and gastrointestinal discomfort.

If you are a busy worker, it is worth paying attention to your diet while striving at work, so that you can have a high-quality life.

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