I could tell you to eat moderately and stick to the South Beach Diet or a Mediterranean Diet but that would make for a very short article and you wouldn't do it anyway. So assuming that you're going to eat meals that are voluminous, drink a bit too much alcohol here and there and visit the candy dish frequently, how do we minimize the damage?
What's Wrong With Gluttony?
Holiday gluttony involves asking your body to do something it really wasn't designed to do. Big holiday meals and parties often involve a combination of too much protein, poor food combinations, excessive sugars, and changes in meal timing. You might eat a large meal with plenty of meat two or three hours before lying down to sleep. While the body is actively trying to digest the meal, you're trying to calm down and get some sleep. You might experience gastric reflux and gas.
Tips
- Drink little or nothing during the meal. Drink a half hour before a meal instead. While eating chew well and enjoy the food, thoroughly mixing the food with saliva; it will digest much better.
- Use digestive enzymes that contain protease, amylase, lipase and lactase. They digest proteins, starches, fats and dairy, respectively. Taking them just before a meal will help you more than an antacid afterwards. You can take a second dose after the meal if you're still feeling bloated and uncomfortable.
- Try bitter herbs like artichoke or dandelion to stimulate digestion. An internet search for “digestive bitters” will find a variety of products.
- An hour or so after a large meal, if you're feeling bloated, a cup of peppermint or ginger tea can help.
- Another supplement that helps with indigestion is a supplement called deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL). Some people get immediate relief from heartburn and indigestion.
- Eat earlier in the day whenever possible. Try to allow the body five hours to digest a large meal before sleeping.
- Avoid aspirin and other drugs that upset the stomach.
- Avoid antacids if at all possible. Generally you need the acid to digest the protein that you've just eaten.
- Alcohol and caffeine will tax the digestion even further so be moderate.
- If you suffer from gastric reflux, knowing how to position your body can offer relief.
Please note: The information in this article is not to be followed as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your physician or primary health practitioner for information regarding your own personal health and necessary treatments.
