Standing instead of sitting while eating may influence your digestion. Different studies have examined the effect of standing versus sitting on the speed of digestion, the effect on satiety, and the negative effects.
In an article published by Well-good, Dr. Peyton Berookim, MD, MA, FACG, AGAF, a double board-certified gastroenterologist at the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California, explained that several relatively minor changes in indigestion and eating patterns tend to occur when standing to eat.
According to Dr. Berookim, Standing when eating may lead to blood pooling in your legs due to the effect of gravity. This circumvents some of the blood that should be flowing to your gut, which is needed for digestion. When this happens, the digestion process may get interrupted, and you may experience some gas and indigestion.
Standing while eating is also correlated with eating faster. People who eat faster tend to swallow in more air, leading to extra gas in your stomach and may cause serious discomfort. As Dr. Berookim stated in the interview, “Eating quickly and chewing less thoroughly can also result in abdominal cramping or discomfort, as your stomach will require more time to break down and digest food,”
However, standing while eating is not always associated with negative effects, it has been found that standing while eating seems to be helpful in patients experiencing symptoms of heartburn or reflux. There is increased pressure in the stomach in these patients, responsible for some of the discomforting symptoms. Standing while eating may help reduce this pressure.
There is not enough evidence on the best posture to adopt while eating, it is all about personal preference. However, if you find that your posture is affecting your digestive health, you have to adjust your posture accordingly. Like Dr, Berookim said, “Either way can be alright. The most important thing is to be mindful while eating and be in tune with what your body needs.”
Source: Well + Good
