Two breakfast habits of office workers that cause all sorts of harm.
Turning a desk into a dining table, eating while looking at the computer, working, or browsing Facebook… is a very common habit among office workers. Seemingly harmless, this is actually the culprit behind all sorts of problems.
Eating while using technology
The sight of people hurriedly eating breakfast while simultaneously staring at their computers or phones is no longer uncommon in the workplace. To save time, this is how a segment of office workers eat breakfast today.
However, according to experts, this habit will distract the brain, preventing it from focusing on its function of controlling the digestive system, thereby affecting food digestion.
The sight of people hurriedly eating breakfast while simultaneously staring at their computers or phones is no longer uncommon in the workplace. Photo: Dallas E
Specifically, when eating, the brain sends signals to the stomach to secrete gastric juices and digestive enzymes. If you eat while working, these signals are diverted from the brain, leading to digestive disorders. Undigested food can accumulate, easily causing gastritis and enteritis.
According to the Harvard Medical School's health information website, eating while working or watching television makes it difficult to control food intake, leading to overeating and weight gain.
Eating too fast
Busy with work, many office workers choose to have a quick breakfast.
However, eating too quickly and not chewing properly can also cause stomach problems. Food enters the stomach in a raw form, not yet mixed thoroughly with digestive enzymes in saliva, increasing the burden on the stomach. This is the cause of acute stomach pain.
According to Healthline,People who eat quickly have a 115% higher rate of obesity compared to those who eat slowly. In a study conducted on 529 men over 8 years, those who ate quickly gained more than twice as much weight as those who ate slowly or at a moderate pace.
Principles for a healthy breakfast
A healthy breakfast should include all the necessary nutrient groups: carbohydrates, protein, fats, fiber, and vitamins. Fried foods, sugary foods, and fatty foods should be avoided in the morning as they can cause bloating and indigestion.
Besides nutrition, eating habits are also crucial for improving health. In addition to giving up the habit of eating breakfast while working or looking at your phone, office workers should follow these principles when eating:
- Wash your hands before eating: At the office, desks, keyboards, mice, doorknobs, etc., are all breeding grounds for bacteria. If you don't have the habit of washing your hands before eating, bacteria can easily attack, causing intestinal diseases such as acute gastritis, stomach pain, etc.
- Control your eating speed: You should eat at regular times and slowly to savor the flavors of the food, as well as ensure your body's digestive process functions normally.
- Drink enough water: Water supports metabolism and helps neutralize toxins, naturally eliminating them from the body. An adult should drink 2.5-3 liters of water a day.
- Avoid unhealthy snacks: Foods high in sugar and simple carbohydrates (simple carbs) such as candy, soft drinks, and ice cream are snacks you should avoid.
Instead, sensible nutritional advice for your snacks includes fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, fresh milk, yogurt, dark chocolate, cheese, etc.