Are You Ruining Your Digestion by Sitting Wrong While Eating? Here’s The Right Way To Sit! (Image Credits: iStock)
Ever wondered why your stomach feels bloated or uncomfortable after a meal? It might not just be what you're eating, but how you’re sitting while you eat. The position in which you sit during meals can have a surprising impact on your digestion, and experts now believe that poor posture could be interfering with how effectively your body processes food.
The Digestion-Posture Connection
Digestion is a complex process involving a series of muscle movements, hormonal signals, and organ functions. When you slouch or sit incorrectly while eating, you could be compressing your stomach and intestines, which hinders the flow of digestive juices and slows down the movement of food through your system.
“Poor posture can put unnecessary pressure on the abdominal organs, particularly the stomach and intestines,” says Dr Megan Rossi, a gut health specialist and registered dietitian based in London. “This can lead to issues such as acid reflux, bloating, and even constipation over time.”
A study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science in 2016 highlighted that prolonged sitting in a slouched position negatively affects abdominal muscle activation, which is important for optimal digestion. Another research article in BMJ Open Gastroenterology found that people who consistently adopted poor posture while eating were more likely to experience symptoms of indigestion and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Moreover, experts at Harvard Medical School caution that slumping forward while eating can restrict the diaphragm, impair breathing, and slow down the peristaltic motion of the digestive tract, which is essential for moving food efficiently.
The Worst Sitting Positions While Eating
Dr Jonathan Aviv, a New York-based otolaryngologist and author of The Acid Watcher Diet, explains: “Lying down or reclining after meals is a common cause of acid reflux. Gravity plays a role in digestion, so you want to use it to your advantage.” Here's what you shouldn’t be doing:
Slouching forward: This compresses the stomach, increasing the risk of heartburn and indigestion.
The Best Way to Sit While Eating
Now, here’s how you should sit to support your gut health:
Sit upright with a straight spine.
What About Traditional Sitting on the Floor?
In many Eastern cultures, sitting cross-legged on the floor while eating is considered beneficial. According to Ayurveda, this position—known as Sukhasana—promotes better digestion by activating the abdominal muscles and calming the nervous system.
When sitting cross-legged, you're naturally encouraged to eat more slowly and mindfully. It also helps maintain posture, keeps the spine erect, and supports natural digestion processes.
However, modern research says that the benefits of floor-sitting depend on your flexibility and posture. If done with a straight spine, this position can indeed support digestive health.
So, next time you sit down for a meal, take a moment to adjust your posture—it’s a simple change that can make a big difference. Sitting upright, with feet grounded and your body relaxed, creates the ideal posture for digestion to happen smoothly and efficiently.
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