Modified and translated by CFJA
5) The Relationship Between Eating and Bathing
For people with irregular schedules for meals and bathing, few may consider whether to eat or bathe first. Busy individuals often have no choice but to do whatever they can first.
Ideally, one should bathe around sunset, then have dinner 30 minutes to an hour afterward, with the meal ending around 7 p.m. This was a common routine for Japanese people before the Showa era, and those over 60 today may still remember this lifestyle.
In today’s world, where the internet allows people to work across time zones and 24-hour services make food accessible anytime, there seems to be little awareness that the body is always working, and irregular hours and meals put a strain on it. Many may not even realize how hard their organs work to support these routines.
Eating imposes a significant workload on the body. Digestion involves not only the stomach but also the heart, liver, lungs, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, and many other organs. It’s essential to rest for about 30 minutes after eating to aid digestion. If one eats quickly without chewing well, it takes longer for the body to digest, necessitating an hour of rest. Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly is more efficient.
Bathing can disrupt digestion because immersion in hot water alters the blood flow needed for digestion. It’s best to bathe either at least 60 minutes after a meal or 30 minutes before eating to avoid adding strain on the body.
If you want to eat soon after bathing, keep your bath short. If cleanliness is the goal, a quick shower is sufficient. If you want to warm up, limit the bath to just 2-3 minutes. The goal is to minimize strain on the body. A shorter bath reduces the need for a 30-minute rest afterward. Additionally, chewing thoroughly can shorten the recommended 1-hour rest after meals.
The most dangerous act is bathing immediately after drinking alcohol, as it greatly increases the risk of stroke and heart attack, so caution is needed.
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