Feasting on Christmas and New Year's Eve What helps the stomach over the holidays

Bloating and heartburn: the stomach needs help over the holidays

On Christmas and New Year's Eve is usually eaten a lot and lush. In addition, the movement is often a bit too short. These circumstances make the food often heavy in the stomach and cause discomfort such as heartburn and bloating. But you can do something about it.

Intensive feasting has consequences

Cookies, roast, punch, mulled wine and sparkling wine: On Christmas and New Year's Eve more food is usually served than usual. This not only provides extra hip gold, but sometimes leads to physical discomfort. Gastric pressure, acid regurgitation, heartburn and feeling of fullness are typical consequences of the treats on the holidays. If you follow a few simple rules, your stomach can help you get through the holidays well.

Luscious food on Christmas and New Year's Eve is often the cause of complaints such as heartburn and feeling of fullness. If you follow a few simple rules, your stomach can help you get through the holidays well. (Image: Kzenon / fotolia.com)

Increased pressure in the abdomen

It comes to heartburn and acid regurgitation, when the strongly acidic gastric contents flow back into the esophagus or the throat and there irritates the sensitive mucous membranes, explains the German Society of Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) in a recent release.

"The cause of this is ultimately the sphincter at the stomach entrance, which separates the esophagus from the stomach like a valve," said Professor Dr. med. med. Siegbert Faiss, Chief Physician of the Department of Gastroenterology and Interventional Endoscopy at Asklepios Klinik Barmbek.

Normally, the sphincter prevents acid from rising from the stomach. The so-called reflux can occur when the sphincter muscle is too weak and the pressure inside the stomach is too high.

The power of this gastric inlet valve decreases slowly with age, but can also be affected by external influences such as alcohol, nicotine or high-fat foods.

If you put too much pressure on your stomach then you run the risk of overstraining your sphincter. Even in people with severe obesity and in pregnant women, the pressure in the abdomen is increased - and with it the risk of reflux.

Smaller portions distributed throughout the day

But what does that mean for the festive meals? "The most obvious, but most important, rule is not to eat too many portions, but rather distribute them over the day, smaller ones, and chew them well," explained Faiss.

With the consumption of alcohol and nicotine restraint is generally required, especially if one tends to heartburn.

In many sufferers, the reflux symptoms mainly occur while lying down, although gravity no longer helps the sphincter at the stomach entrance to work.

"It is therefore advisable not to eat late in the evening and put a second pillow in the bed or put the bed up," says Faiss. The slightly increased sleeping position reduces the pressure on the sphincter.

Exercise in the fresh air

One of the best ways to strengthen the digestion naturally are walks. To prevent discomfort such as bloating or bloating, a short walk after dinner can help.

The exercise in the fresh air not only stimulates the circulation, but also promotes the circulation of the intestine, which makes the meal easier to digest.

Of cigarettes or liquor as digestive aids advise health experts from.

For coffee and espresso: The drinks stimulate the bowel movement in some people and accelerate defecation. They do not help with the emptying of the stomach.

Teas and herbs for indigestion

As a home remedy for fullness, there are also various medicinal teas with fennel, caraway, lemon balm, chamomile or peppermint. These have a calming and relaxing effect on the digestive tract.

Against the various indigestion are also drugs such as acid blockers available, some of which are available without prescription in pharmacies.

But you should resort to it according to health experts only in exceptional cases. In no case should such remedies be taken without medical advice for an extended period - two weeks or more.

Simple home remedies often work just as well. For example, spices such as cumin, fennel and ginger are tried-and-tested home remedies for stomach pain and flatulence. (Ad)