Meditation after eating is great if you are trying to lose weight. But, the practice is best avoided under usual circumstances. The ideal time to meditate is an hour and a half after your meal.
In recent times, the prowess, prevalence, and acceptance of meditation have increased exponentially. People are fast realizing that meditative practices are an excellent medium to relax, unwind, and let go of stress. From working professionals to students, everyone is embracing meditation with open arms.
However, it is common for meditation newbies to wonder - ‘Can we meditate after eating?’ If this question is looming over your mind, as well, then this blog is the place to be!
Should You Meditate After Eating
To answer the question of engaging in meditative practices after eating, it is essential to consider certain scenarios.
- Meditating When Hungry
If you practice meditation while being hungry, you might find it hard to focus and also feel more irritable. Hunger leads to a sudden plunge in glucose that affects your mood and also the serenity of your meditation. Simply put, it is harder to meditate while you are hungry because you will be thinking about food the entire time.
On the other hand, if you are trying to lose weight, it might be a good idea to meditate while hungry, as it will train your mind to be more mindful of hunger pangs. But, under normal circumstances, it is always best to meditate when you are not hungry. Hunger pangs increase psychological stress and mitigate the scope of meditation.
- Meditating After Eating
Meditation after the immediate consumption of food is not a great choice either. Of course, after eating food you will be less irritable and moody. But, you may also be feeling tired and lethargic. After a meal, your body enters the ‘rest and digest’ mode,’ which activates your parasympathetic nervous system. Thus, you feel relaxed and have mild drowsiness. Thus, you might feel drowsy during meditation. Lastly, the human brain also changes after eating.
According to health experts, after we eat, the blood flow to the small intestine increases exponentially, which might reduce the blood flow to the brain. Thus, you are tired and your capabilities to focus (meditate) are reduced.
- Meditation While Eating or Mindful Meditation
Thus, meditation on an empty stomach and meditation after eating have their pitfalls. But, when you meditate while eating, it is known as mindful eating. It can be an incredibly beneficial practice if you are attempting to lose or gain weight. Eat gently and mindfully while concentrating on your meal.
The crux of the matter remains that mindful eating is better than meditating before or eating. As it is the perfect ‘middle ground.’
How Much Gap to Leave Between Meditating and Eating?
You do not want to be too hungry while Transcendental Meditation vs Mindfulness and also it is best not to meditate during the ‘rest and digest’ period. Thus, it is best to leave an hour and a half between eating and meditating.
Conclusion
So, there it was - an answer to the question, ‘Can we meditate after eating.’
Summary: The best time to meditate is an hour and a half after your meal. But, if you are trying to lose weight, meditation on an empty stomach is a good idea.
