Eating is an enjoyable moment for all of us. It is one of the most essential parts of any occasions, especially during the month of Shawal. It is a month when most of us occupy our weekends, be it visiting our relatives, neighbours and friends or inviting them to our house. Eating has been an essential part of these occasions. Without proper eating habits, our days will turn upside down. Today we would like to share some of the facts about eating habits that have always been neglected and forgotten. We do hope by sharing these facts, it helps us to reflect on our eating habits and helps us to have a better health outcome.

1. Sugary Diet

Biscuits, cakes, sugary drinks contain a high amount of sugar. Sugary diet attracts Streptococcus Mutans Bacteria that can cause caries formation. This leads to tooth decay. It consumes sugar from foods and drinks to produce acids that dissolve and damage the teeth. Soft drinks (be it ‘regular’ or ‘diet’), sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices, fruit drinks and cordials have high acid levels that can cause tooth erosion. Therefore let us limit our sugar intake.

2.What can we do besides limiting sugary diet?

The usage of Miswak (Salvadora Persica) has been reported to have an essential antibacterial role, particularly on cariogenic bacteria and periodontal pathogens. It has a potent role in caries prevention. The reduction in a number of Streptococcus Mutans was more significant in Miswak users as compared to toothbrush users.

3. Is it advisable to drink tea or coffee while having a meal?

Studies have been done to show the effect of a few people having a meal while drinking tea, coffee or orange juice. The measuring of their iron levels after the meal was combined with various drinks. When the subjects ate the lunch combined with tea, there was a 62 per cent reduction in iron absorption. And if the subjects drink coffee while having lunch, resulted in a 35 per cent reduction. However, if the subjects drink orange juice while having a meal increased iron absorption by about 85 per cent. Therefore, do not drink tea or coffee while having a meal.

4. Does mixing tea with milk gives benefits?

A study showed that milk blunts the heart benefit of tea. It wipes out the valuable effects of the available antioxidants. The caseins (from milk) which interact with tea, decreasing the concentration of catechin (the flavonoids in tea that are responsible for its protective effects against heart disease. What can we do? Drink tea and drink milk separately.

5. Is it harmful to eat or drink while it is still hot?

Yes. Majority of studies showed a higher risk of Esophageal cancer associated with higher temperature of food and drinks when they were consumed hot. Cells can become damaged from the habit of consuming too hot foods that they become cancerous.

Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessing be upon him) has advised us against this habit. A lady sahabah ‘Asma bint Abu Bakr, that if she used to cook a broth she would cover it with something until the hot bubbling steam had left, then she said: verily I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace & blessing be upon him) says: ‘Indeed it is greater Baraka (blessings) in the food from which is not bubbling and steaming.’[1]

6. How to prevent choking while eating?

Table manners is a manner that has been put emphasis by all cultures. One of the significant problems that can arise without proper manner while eating is choking. We should not talk while eating, and we should drink water during mealtime. The meals should be eaten slowly with smaller bites and thorough chewing.

7. Can we drink while eating?

Yes. There is no concern that water will dilute the digestive juices or interfere with digestion. In fact, drinking water during or after a meal actually aids digestion. Water and other liquids help break down food so that your body can absorb the nutrients. Drinking water also helps to soften stool, which helps prevent constipation. A study that analysed the stomach’s emptying speed observed that they have no effect on the solids’ digestion speed.

8. How can oesophagal reflux and stomach upset be prevented?

The stomach of an adult is about the size of a fist. This organ can expand as much as 40 times its original capacity to hold a big meal or large fluid intake. The habit of eating large, high-fat meals unusually late at night and then lying down, can disturb with the oesophagal sphincter.

Eating slowly gives food a chance to reach the small intestines and trigger hormone leptin and cholecystokinin. These hormones are released by the ileum and responsible for making a person feel full, helping to prevent overeating.

Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessing be upon him) advised us to practise moderation in eating. He said’ “A man does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for the son of Adam to eat enough to keep him alive. But if he must do that, then one-third for his food, one-third for his drink and one-third for his air.” [2] Other than that, Jabir reported: Prophet Muhammad (peace & blessing be upon him), said, “The food of one person is enough for two, the food of two is enough for four, and the food of four is enough for eight.”[3]

We do hope that these 8 facts useful. Please share this article. You can also email us your thoughts about eating habits here, and we will update it in this article for other readers to read and practice in their life. Do remember the Hashanah that you can get just by sharing these. Jazakumullahu khairan and happy reading.

Bibliography:

[1] No. 392/659 Taken from Silsilah Ahadeeth As-Saheehah of Shaykh Al-Albaani

[2] Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2380; Ibn Maajah, 3349; classed as Saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 1939.

[3] Sahih Muslim 2059

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3760353/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6896705?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
3. http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/09/27/161895873/health-benefits-of-tea-milking-it-or-not
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2773211/
5. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/…/faq-20058348
6. https://authoritynutrition.com/drinking-with-meals/
7. : https://www.reference.com/science/big-human-stomach-2bc73162f366a298#
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12851312