Night, which is supposed to be a time for the body to rest, has become a time of torment for many elderly people with a bad stomach. Tossing and turning in bed, stomach burning, dull aches, these discomforts not only interfere with sleep, but may also indicate a hidden danger to stomach health. In fact, sleep is extremely closely related to the stomach, especially for the elderly with gradual deterioration of stomach function, some seemingly inconspicuous daily habits may be quietly harming their stomach.

Eating Before Bed: A Cautionary Tale of Ancient Wisdom and Modern Research

"Eat not overnight", this ancient adage is not uncommon in ancient Chinese medicine books. According to the Qing Dynasty medical book "Compendium of Materia Medica", the stomach qi is astringent at night, and eating is easy to disturb the qi and blood, resulting in stomach discomfort. The ancients had long known that the damage to the stomach caused by eating at night should not be underestimated. Modern medicine has also confirmed this: eating before bed increases the burden on the stomach and triggers acid reflux.

In particular, foods high in oil and sugar are slow to digest and tend to stay in the stomach for too long, resulting in excessive gastric acid secretion. Gastric juice is a "sharp tool" to promote food digestion, but excessive secretion at night can become the "culprit" that irritates the stomach lining and induces health problems such as acid reflux. This condition not only interferes with sleep, but can also exacerbate stomach problems. Therefore, it is recommended that the elderly try to avoid eating 2 hours before bedtime, so that the stomach has enough time to digest and enter the "rest" mode at night to reduce the risk of acid reflux.

Strongwood & Coffee: The "Stomach Acid Booster" Hidden in the Night

Many older people are accustomed to drinking a strong cup of tea or coffee before bedtime, either to get rid of the greasy feeling after dinner, or to ward off the cold or to refresh themselves. However, the habit may be quietly hurting their stomachs. The caffeine, tea alkaloids and other components rich in tea and coffee will act as a "catalyst" to promote the secretion of gastric juice, especially strong tea and dark roasted coffee, which has a more significant stimulating effect.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "cold evil hurts the stomach", and some irritating foods, especially cold or bitter substances, can damage the qi and blood in the stomach. Modern medical research has also pointed out that the caffeine in tea and coffee will increase gastric acid secretion, which is not conducive to the recovery of gastric diseases. For the elderly with a bad stomach, try to avoid strong tea or coffee intake before going to bed, and choose mild drinks such as warm water and light rice soup. This not only does not increase gastric acid secretion, but also stabilizes blood sugar and water metabolism at night and protects the function of the stomach.

Lying flat and falling asleep: Beware of the "pitfalls" of acid reflux

Lying down to sleep is a habitual action for many people, but for the elderly with a bad stomach, it can be a "trap" that leads to acid reflux. When lying flat, stomach contents tend to flow upward, causing acid reflux, a condition known in modern medicine as gastroesophageal reflux disease. Long-term acid reflux not only makes the stomach more fragile, but can also lead to esophagitis and even increase the risk of esophageal cancer.

To reduce the likelihood of acid reflux at night, it is recommended to raise the head of the bed slightly by 20-0 degrees while you fall asleep, so that the upper body is slightly elevated. This pose acts as a "natural barrier" to reduce the upflow of stomach contents while reducing the irritation of the esophagus by stomach acid. Lying on the right side increases the risk of stomach acid flowing to the esophagus, so it is best for older people with a bad stomach to use the left side decubitus position, which can help reduce the chance of acid reflux.

Mood swings before bed: Don't let anxiety hurt your stomach

The relationship between emotions and the function of the viscera has been elaborated as early as in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine. "The mind is the main mind", and the mood swings are large, which can easily lead to "liver qi offending the stomach" and aggravate stomach discomfort. The elderly are often irritable due to some small things in life and family trivialities, and if they are emotional or anxious before going to bed, the nervous system will be in a state of excitement, resulting in gastrointestinal secretion disorders, which in turn will cause stomach pain or nausea.

Modern medicine also supports this view. Studies have shown that mood directly affects the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. Long-term anxiety or nervousness can lead to abnormal gastric acid secretion, thinning of the stomach wall, and damage to the gastric mucosa, further aggravating stomach problems. To alleviate these problems, the elderly can take some soothing measures before bedtime, such as deep breathing exercises, listening to soft melodies of music or meditating on meditation, to help relax the body and prevent mood swings from causing adverse effects on the stomach.

Tips for nourishing your stomach at night: give your stomach a "good night's sleep"

Dinner to taste: lightens the burden on the stomach

Dinner is a "bridging meal" from day to night, but many older people often overeat, putting a heavy burden on the stomach. A moderate amount of dinner not only reduces stomach acid secretion, but also allows the stomach to better rest at night. It is recommended to eat light, easy-to-digest foods for dinner, avoid overeating, and allow the stomach to "breathe easily" at night.

Stay away from irritating foods: Protect the gastric mucosa

Spicy, greasy, cold or hot foods are the "natural enemies" of the gastric mucosa. These foods can irritate the gastric mucosa like "adding fuel to the fire", leading to excessive gastric acid secretion and even stomach inflammation. The stomach function of the elderly is gradually deteriorating, and they should stay away from these irritating foods and choose mild and nutritionally balanced foods to help the gastric mucosa recover.

Soothe your body and mind before bed: Relax your mood and relax your stomach

The emotional state before bed has a direct impact on the health of the stomach. Older adults can do some soothing activities before bedtime, such as deep breathing, meditation, or simple stretching exercises. These activities not only help the body relax, but also regulate the nervous system, reduce abnormal secretions in the gastrointestinal tract, and allow the stomach to get enough rest at night.

Arrange daily life scientifically: regular work and rest to help stomach health

A regular routine is an important guarantee for maintaining stomach health. Older people should try to maintain a fixed sleep schedule and avoid staying up late or overexertion. A regular routine not only helps the stomach repair better at night, but also regulates the body's overall metabolism and provides sufficient energy for the next day.

Proofread by Zhuang Wu