If your daily routine includes showering right after a meal, it may be time to rethink your habits. According to renowned lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho, this seemingly innocent act could be silently harming your digestion and overall gut health. In a recent video shared on Instagram, he reveals how timing your shower wrong can disrupt internal processes vital to nutrient absorption and healing.
Your Body’s Energy Shift Post-Meal
When you eat, your body gets to work immediately. Digestion isn’t just about your stomach breaking down food — it’s a complex symphony involving blood flow, nerve signals, and hormonal coordination. Coutinho explains that after a meal, your parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the “rest and digest” mode, kicks in, directing energy and blood flow to your digestive organs.
“This blood flow is essential for breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and fueling enzymatic activity,” he says. However, taking a shower right after can interrupt this carefully balanced process.
How Showers Disrupt Digestion
Hot and cold showers affect your body differently, but both can negatively impact digestion. A hot shower causes vasodilation, meaning blood vessels expand and redirect blood toward the skin. A cold shower causes vasoconstriction, tightening vessels and limiting circulation. Either way, blood gets pulled away from your gut, just when it’s needed most.
“This can trigger a thermoregulatory response or even a stress reaction in the body, especially if your digestive system is already weak,” warns Coutinho.
Especially Harmful for Sensitive Guts
Coutinho’s warning isn’t just theoretical. He emphasises that people with gut issues like IBS, colitis, Crohn’s disease, acid reflux, bloating, or constipation are more vulnerable. If your gut is already struggling with regulation, missteps like post-meal showers can delay healing and worsen inflammation.
“Your gut already struggles with regulation. A mistimed shower can slow healing and create more inflammation over time,” he explains.
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When Should You Shower?
So what’s the alternative? Coutinho recommends either showering before meals or waiting at least 90 to 120 minutes after eating. He adds that the heavier the meal, the longer you should wait.
“Many people don’t feel the effects right away, but repeated interference with digestion often leads to chronic symptoms we ignore until it’s too late,” he cautions.
Is It Really That Big of a Deal?
You might wonder if it’s okay occasionally, say, after a big lunch when you just want to freshen up. According to Coutinho, it might not hurt once in a while. “The body is built for survival. You may get away with it once, twice, thrice, that’s fine,” he admits. But the problem arises when it becomes a daily habit.
“We’ve seen clients with stubborn gut issues feel better with just this one change,” he shares. “It’s not fear. It’s science. It’s common sense. It’s gut intelligence.”
Watch the video here:
Respect Your Body’s Timing
Luke Coutinho’s simple yet powerful advice: “Start respecting your body’s natural processes. You’ll begin to notice the difference in your energy, digestion, and mood.” If you’re battling digestive discomfort and can’t figure out why, your shower routine might be the silent culprit. A small change in timing could make a big difference in your gut health.
(This article is meant for informational purposes only and must not be considered a substitute for advice provided by qualified medical professionals.)