What Happens When We Overeat?
Author: Alexander Bruni
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
From the video we can learn what happens in the body when we consume excessive amounts of food.
After consuming large amounts of food , we feel discomfort and bloating. Some of the reasons for this are physical.
The stomach can expand to take the amount of 1 liter. When we consume a lot of food, we fill it to its maximum. Thus, the stomach is pressed against other organs, as a result of which we feel our stomach is full.
In addition, the stomach and intestines are filled with gas while eating, which contributes to the unpleasant sensation. With each sip we take in a little air, which is even larger if we consume carbonated beverages . Inside the stomach, the gas that makes the drink carbonated takes up more space than the liquid itself. The body has its own way to get rid of excess gas in the stomach - with belching.
Some people experience another unpleasant side effect of a hearty diet - the appearance of heartburn .
Hydrochloric acid is formed in the stomach to break down food . The more food there is to break down in the stomach, the more hydrochloric acid is formed. This can irritate the lining of the stomach, reach the esophagus , and result in a burning sensation.
The other reason behind the feeling of bloated stomach and discomfort lies in the brain . When we have consumed enough food, the messengers in the body, the hormones , "tell" the brain that it is time to stop eating.
When eating high-calorie foods, the cells in the gut secrete the hormone PYY . When it enters the brain , it binds to receptors, eventually feeling full .
Some hormones react more strongly to foods that are high in fat, carbohydrates or protein , but they all have the same goal - to make us leave the fork ...