An empty stomach means on a lean (empty) stomach. This adverb is most often heard when talking about taking medication, the rules for taking tests, or conducting other medical procedures (for example, gastric FGS).
What is this condition?
What is an empty stomach? This is the state of the body, achieved after abstinence from eating at least 8 hours, and preferably 12. They usually talk about the condition on an empty stomach in the morning after a night's sleep in the interval up to 10 hours in the morning. It is at this time that all procedures are prescribed that require the patient's condition on an empty stomach. Dinner should be no later than seven to eight in the evening.
If you don’t take food longer - up to 12-13 hours, then they’re talking about another condition - “on an empty stomach”.
Why do tests need to be taken on a lean stomach?
What is fasting blood donation, why is it important?
Blood tests are always recommended on an empty stomach. But is it so important for all analyzes?
After eating, it enters the stomach and intestines, is digested, and the digested substances are absorbed into the blood. Metabolic reactions are triggered, associated with providing cells with energy and building materials, storing the "excess" of these elements, hormones that regulate these processes are released into the blood. Thus, a blood test during this period will show the body's work on the use of food substances, and not the background state. Only after 8-12 hours after eating all the reactions associated with digestion will end. This condition is called “fasting” - an ideal time to study the state of the body.
Features of passing tests
A fasting blood test is performed on the following indicators.
- Glucose.
- The lipid profile of the blood, including cholesterol, is best determined after a 12-hour abstinence from food.
- Hormones and antibodies to various pathogens - wait 6 hours after eating.
- C-peptide and insulin are given strictly on an empty stomach until 10 in the morning.
A number of indicators are best examined in the morning - up to 10 hours, for example, some hormones, blood iron.
In addition, some doctors believe that eating spicy, salty, sugary foods can increase your white blood cell count. Therefore, before donating blood, they are not recommended to eat similar products. However, a light breakfast before donating blood for a general analysis will not affect the result. You can eat porridge without sugar and butter, an apple, drink tea without sugar. Breakfast must be completed one hour before blood donation.
But the analysis for genetic polymorphisms can be taken throughout the day, regardless of meals.
FGS and FGDS do on an empty stomach. The doctor may even prescribe a special diet. Before the procedure itself, you can not even use chewing gum, since chewing it will provoke the release of mucus, which will interfere with the study.
Features of taking medication
What is fasting medication and why is it important? Any medicinal substance, once in the digestive tract, is absorbed in the small intestine and enters the bloodstream. The more complete the absorption, the more effective the administration of the drug. Various factors can affect the absorption process, including the presence of other substances in the intestines. For example, coffee and tea interfere with the absorption of iron and calcium. In addition, some substances may increase the side effects of drugs. For example, the combined use of antibiotics or paracetamol with alcohol can lead to severe poisoning due to the development of liver failure. Therefore, it is better to drink all the medicines with non-carbonated non-mineral water, in no case with milk, tea, coffee or juices.
Of course, there are exceptions. For example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Ketanov, Analgin, Voltaren, Indomethacin) and steroid hormones (Prednisolone, Dexamethasone) are recommended to be washed down with milk, which protects the stomach lining from the damaging effects of these groups of drugs. The same drugs in the enteric membrane no longer have an effect on the gastric mucosa, so protection with milk is no longer needed.
Such subtleties are difficult to keep in the head, especially if medication is irregular. Therefore, it is better not to take risks and take all medications on an empty stomach and drink with ordinary clean water at room temperature.
When does a condition occur?
It is necessary not to take food 8, but rather 12 hours, but not more.
Coffee and tea (even without sugar), juice, milk, carbonated drinks, compote, kissel, mineral water are also food! Milk, juice, compotes and jelly contain nutrients, coffee and tea - substances that affect different systems of our body, mineral water - micro and macro elements. Everything that is not pure water at room temperature is perceived by the body as food and affects the absorption of other substances, as well as blood counts.
Do not abuse water. If you drink a lot of water in the morning, the blood volume increases, this will affect the test results. At home, you can drink a glass of water and take a bottle with you. Doctors even recommend drinking water in small quantities before donating blood, especially to pregnant women, because due to the peculiarities of their hormonal status, they thicken their blood, which complicates the process of taking it.
What can not be done?
1. Drink anti-inflammatory non-steroid drugs.
2. Drink coffee.
3. Drink alcohol.
4. Chewing gum.
5. Go to bed.
6. Intensively train.
7. Make purchases.
8. Drink citrus juice.
Benefit and harm
What is an empty stomach a glass of water or a spoon of honey, is it useful or harmful?
Traditional and official medicine suggests starting your morning with a glass of clean cold water. This will allow the body to quickly wake up, start the work of all organs and systems. You need to drink water half an hour before eating. No harm and no contraindications.
But the rest of the advice to take something on an empty stomach should be followed with caution. They are not suitable for everyone.
Fasting honey - benefit and harm?
A common tip is to take a spoonful of honey on an empty stomach. Honey is 80% composed of fructose and glucose. In this, it is similar to regular sugar, which is 100% sucrose - a compound of glucose and fructose. Not everyone can take pure carbohydrates on an empty stomach. Taking honey will lead to an increase in blood sugar, which, of course, will give strength to a person, but it will be dangerous for diabetics.
Often taken on an empty stomach, honey diluted in water. It is important to know that honey, diluted in cold water and taken half an hour before a meal, will increase the acidity in the stomach. Diluted in hot (not higher than 60 ° C) water and taken immediately before meals will not affect acidity.
That is why, on an empty stomach, honey should be taken with caution, given its condition and the particular effects of honey on the body.