Is sitting signifiantly better than lying down for digesting food and are there digeston problems when eating in weightless conditions? In other words, does gravity have much effect on human digestion?

lanfranco

If this site is correct, then gravity does not have much, if any, effect on digestion. Certain muscles do the work of pushing food where it needs to go. The site includes a brief reference to an astronaut who claimed that weightlessness did not affect his digestive processes: http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/apr2001/988247256.Gb.r.html Aug 02 05, 12:14 PM

gmackematix

Thanks Frankie. Someone at work was saying that a character in a TV ad seen lying down while eating was setting a bad example. She pointed out that it was not only bad manners but was bad for digestion. Feeling argumentative, I pointed out that it probably didn't make much difference digestion-wise. Whether she swallowed the argument or not it didn't go down well. Didn't the Romans believe that sitting while eating was bad for you? Aug 03 05, 11:55 AM

lanfranco

Not necessarily. At one point in Roman history, I believe, only men reclined at meals, while women sat in chairs for modesty's sake. Presumably, they weren't anxious to wreck the digestion of their women. But personally, I do find it somewhat uncomfortable to swallow food while reclining. Aug 03 05, 12:08 PM

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