Overindulgence during the holiday season can cause acid reflux, gastritis and diarrhea, says expert

Dubai-UAE: 29 November, 2016:  Every year, the holiday season brings with its festivities, family time and never-ending feasts with rich foods ranging from gravy laden dishes to buttery treats and sinfully indulgent desserts to delicious hot and cold beverages.  It’s a time that is marked by indulgence, relaxing with family and friends and taking a break from the regular 9-5 rigmarole. However, indulgence often turns to overindulgence and relaxing can mean no exercise or activities to help burn the calories consumed. The result can often be weight gain, gastritis, acid reflux, diarrhea and other issues that take the fun out of festive.

Dr. Zeeshan Khan, Specialist Internal Medicine, Medeor 24X7 Hospital, says the hospital receives many patients with digestive disorders during and immediately after the festive period. “Foods made and served during the festive period are often high in sugar and fat. Both these ingredients can contribute to weight gain. Consuming large portions of fried food can slow down digestion and trigger acid reflux. Sweet, spicy and fat laden foods can also lead to bloating, and stomach upsets, resulting in flatulence and diarrhea.

“People eat more than they usually do during holiday feasts. However, eating more portions continuously can put a lot of pressure on the esophageal sphincter (the muscle that keeps digested food and digestive acids down in the stomach). Sometimes, the pressure is too much and it causes the sphincter walls to weaken thus causing food and acids to be pushed back up into the food pipe. This leads to a burning feeling in the chest and a sour taste in the mouth commonly referred to as heart burn or acid reflux. 

“Eating too much can also slow down the digestive process and lead to stomach aches and even constipation, especially if you are not eating fibre-rich foods during the period. Overindulgence can also result in acute gastritis, which is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach.  The lining can irritated by overindulging in certain beverages as well as spicy and rich food, especially if it is done continuously over couple of weeks,” said Dr. Khan.

He also added that bingeing on starchy foods during the festive season can spike blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients as well.

Dr. Khan said that there are simple tips to avoid these problems and enjoy a healthy holiday season without visits to the doctor. “Those cooking festive meals should monitor their use of sugar, fat and rich dairy products such as cheese, sour cream and ice cream. Use healthy alternatives whenever and wherever you can. Balance the festive spread with grilled vegetables and salads as well as fresh fruit among options for dessert. Use lean meats and limit the use of starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes and rice. Avoid using processed foods with little nutritional value

“Those partaking in festive meals should realize the importance of eating healthy, well balanced meals to avoid digestive problems. Eating vegetables and fibre-rich foods in small to moderate portions is an ideal way to do that. Limit high fat or sweet foods as much as possible. If invited to a festive dinner, have some soup or a light snack before you get there so your hunger pangs are under control. Also, eat slowly, as it takes our bodies 20 minutes or more to be full or satiated.  Diabetics in particular should avoid starchy meals and sugar-rich desserts; eating small portions several times a day instead of large meals is a better way to can keep blood sugar levels in check.

“Overeating, especially food that is salty or sweet, as well as drinking certain beverages can cause dehydration. Drink at least eight glasses of water to avoid this from happening. This will also cleanse the body and help to move food more easily through the digestive system. Most importantly, exercise or stay active even during the holidays. Exercising during this period - even for shorter periods - is crucial as people attend more events with food and drinks than they usually do, leading to higher consumption of calories,” added Dr. Khan.

He added that in case of minor upsets or headaches, taking an antacid or mild anti-inflammatory medication is a simple solution. The idea, however, is to prevent the need for these with the above mentioned tips.

“Following easy steps to stay healthy is all it really takes to enjoy a great holiday season. We, at Medeor 24x7 Hospital, Dubai, wish the public a healthy festive season. We are committed to the overall wellbeing of the community and we hope by raising awareness on common illnesses seen during this time, we can make the holidays fun for families and the community at large. While they may not be immediately life threatening, if left untreated these can have more severe consequences,” said Dr. Mohammed Berer, Medical Director, Medeor 24x7 Hospital, Dubai.