How Does Overeating On Holidays Hurt?

It is normal and quite understandable our desire during the Christmas meals to relax and overdo it with the delicious dishes on the table. Some people who fast seriously would upset the gastrointestinal tract if they decide to pounce directly on a varied menu.

What are the most common complaints due to overeating and why should not be overdone?

The feeling of heaviness is due to the overstretching of the stomach, whose wall is relatively elastic, but when overdone it leads to discomfort. In order to compensate for the condition, involuntary contractions are stimulated, which aim at the faster emptying of the stomach and the corresponding movement of the food to the next levels of the digestive tract. But the faster emptying of the stomach precedes the release of digestive enzymes in the upper layers of the small intestine. Thus, the food is not digested well enough and causes discomfort when moving down.

In some cases, spasms aimed at pushing food into the intestines can lead to the opposite - the return of food to the esophagus, leading to nausea and possibly accompanied by vomiting.

It is recommended not to lie on your back, because it further increases the discomfort and complicates the work of the stomach. Rest is the most reasonable option, as movement will lead to the concentration of blood in the skeletal muscles and, accordingly, reduce the inflow to the digestive tract.

It is recommended not to drink fluids because it further leads to stretching of the stomach wall, as well as dilution of digestive enzymes, which increases the discomfort of undigested food.

Pre-administration of antacids is misunderstood because it reduces the formation of hydrochloric acid, and it is relevant to the overall digestive process, in addition to its purely antimicrobial properties.

A certain amount of air is also ingested during meals, which is related to the formation of gases. For this reason, it is necessary to take gas medications in case there is a predisposition to flatulence.

Overeating also leads to discomfort, which in turn can lead to sleep disorders. Especially in cases where overeating is in the evening, which is the most common option due to the evening gatherings, even on weekends.

One of the causes of insomnia can be the increased intake of carbohydrates and in particular pure sugar. The reason is that once the amount of blood sugar rises sharply, the release of insulin is activated as a compensatory mechanism, which aims to normalize its levels. But its abrupt descent, in turn, leads to the release of other molecules, such as a protective reaction - such as adrenaline, which directly affects sleep.

In some cases, overeating can lead to the accelerated passage of food due to irritation from undigested areas and spasms of the intestinal mucosa. So another unpleasant moment is diarrhea.

When overeating, other relatively rare manifestations are increased heart rate, sweating, and in extremely rare cases, mild dizziness.

Fatigue is another characteristic manifestation, which is due not only to disturbed sleep after an evening overeating, but also to the malaise associated with stomach and intestinal discomfort.

It is possible that the next morning after overeating we feel even hungrier. In these cases, however, it is recommended that breakfast be light so that the intestinal tract can regain its function after overload.