Mukbang YouTubers who clear mountains of food in one go are quite fascinating, making one wonder, 'Is it really okay to eat like that?' However, even mukbang YouTubers take breaks after filming. Repeating mukbangs like regular meals can put a strain on the stomach and overall condition. In fact, among mukbang YouTubers, there is a common saying that 'if you don't recover by the next day after filming, you won't last long.'
Jjuyang "On filming days, that's my only meal for the day"
Jjuyang has stated in various interviews and broadcasts that "on days when I film mukbangs, that's the entirety of my meals for the day." After filming, she usually doesn't have additional meals or wraps up with a drink that is easy on digestion.
When consuming a large amount of food in a short time, the stomach rapidly expands and the secretion of gastric acid increases. Eating again in this state can easily lead to heartburn, bloating, and reflux symptoms during sleep. In fact, such discomfort can lead to a decline in condition the next day. What Jjuyang emphasizes is not 'how much you eat,' but rather the management method of recovering the body before the next filming.
Hamji "Mukbang and daily meals are different"
Hamji is a prime example of someone who thoroughly distinguishes between mukbang content and regular meals. On days without filming, she is known to maintain a relatively simple diet and avoids eating stimulating foods in succession. Contrary to her mukbang image focused on home-cooked meals, in real life, she prioritizes managing meal intervals and portions to avoid burdening her stomach. This attitude of prioritizing stomach recovery in daily life is considered a key to long-term activity.
Hibap "If you keep eating, your stomach will suffer before your belly does"
Hibap has also mentioned several times that "on filming days, that's one meal." He explains the burden on the stomach after a large meal with the expression, "If you keep eating, your stomach will suffer before your belly does." In fact, the day after filming, he is known to reduce his meal portions or adjust his diet to focus on protein and vegetables, allowing his stomach to have a break. This is closer to a strategy that prioritizes digestive function and recovery of condition. It is a way to manage the body to continue mukbangs for a long time.
If you follow mukbangs exactly, your stomach will be the first to break down
The foods featured in mukbang content often have high sodium, fat, and sugar content. According to related studies, an increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods has been reported to raise the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The problem arises when such meals are repeated not as 'one-time events' but as 'daily meals.' Continuous stimulating meals without recovery periods can lead to excessive gastric acid secretion and irritation of the gastric mucosa, resulting in decreased stomach function.
Internal Medicine Specialist "Mukbang is content, meals should focus on recovery"
An internal medicine specialist in Seoul explains, "The act of consuming a large amount of food in a short time itself puts considerable strain on the stomach." When the stomach rapidly expands, gastric acid secretion becomes excessive, and if this state is repeated, the likelihood of functional dyspepsia, gastritis, or gastroesophageal reflux disease increases.
Especially the habit of eating additional food after watching mukbangs late at night completely robs the stomach of recovery time. The specialist emphasizes, "It is medically very reasonable for popular mukbang YouTubers to adjust their meals or take breaks after filming, and rather than just imitating the eating scenes, one should also consider the recovery strategies that follow."
