Medicover
Holiday dishes should please the eye and stomach. When eating a lot of fatty foods, we have to keep in mind that our digestive system may stop to function efficiently.
Typical holiday ailments
After a hearty, spicy or fatty meal, you can develop:
- heartburn,
- bloating,
- stomach pain,
- nausea,
- feeling of fullness.
Especially people suffering from dyspepsia (indigestion) must remember that the symptoms may get more severe.
The holiday season is a challenge for diabetics, too. This does not mean, however, that they have to abstain from Christmas Eve dishes. They should only enjoy them with moderation and approach desserts with caution. Also, they should not forget about blood glucose testing during the festive feasting.
Laryngologists warn fish should be consumed in good lighting conditions, so a candlelit dinner with a fish menu is not a good idea. In order for food to be a pleasure during the holidays, it is worth following a few rules.
What to replace the unhealthy dishes with?
Of Christmas Eve dishes, it is fried ones that are the unhealthiest. That is why this method of food processing is best avoided.
The traditional dumplings ("pierogi") are best served freshly cooked. And when we need to reheat them, we should do it using the oven. Instead of fish fried in breadcrumb batter, that can be hard to digest, we should rather serve steamed fish or fish in broth jelly. Fatty carp can be replaced with trout, halibut, cod or zander. Most of those species are not only lean, but also low in bones.
If someone at the dinner table has gallbladder stones or liver problems, they should skip fatty carp and mushrooms and go for lean fish instead.
It is always important to make sure that mushrooms come from a proven source. Also, we should eat them with moderation, especially in the evening, because they burden the digestive system.
Healthy holidays vs Christmas Eve dinner hurry
It is worth starting Christmas Eve dinner earlier and let it last as long as possible. When consumed over an extended period of time, food will not cause an insulin spike, which quickly lead to a feeling of hunger. We should keep intervals between subsequent courses and, most importantly, enjoy food with moderation.
We will certainly feel the effects of overeating if there are too many dishes. While, according to tradition, we should try each of the Christmas Eve dishes, the servings should be symbolic. And of course, we need not try all of them at once. Excessive alcohol consumption is also discouraged.
Most importantly, we should not give up physical activity during the holiday season. For example, we can go for a walk after the Christmas Eve dinner. Christmas feasts should be followed by outdoor fun, e.g. ice skating.
Hearty meals may also cause a drop in blood pressure. Specialists warn – mostly elderly people – against leaving the Christmas table too quickly. Lowered blood pressure caused by a big meal may result in dizziness, which in turn may lead to falls. Thus, one should not get up immediately after eating.
What to drink to make the holidays healthy?
Diabetologists recommend avoiding sweet carbonated drinks, e.g. colas. Such glucose loads result in volcanic insulin spikes. It is best to drink water, both before and after a meal.
Digestion can also be assisted with herbs. To relieve bloating and stomach aches, you can drink an infusion of mint. For bloating, dietitians also recommend an infusion of half a teaspoon of caraway (you can also add a teabag of chamomile).
It is worth adding caraway and marjoram to holiday dishes. Marjoram eliminates stomach and intestinal cramps and stimulates the secretion of gastric juice, reducing excessive fermentation in the digestive tract. Caraway fruit also stimulates the secretion of digestive juices and has antispasmodic and carminative properties.
A small glass of alcohol can facilitate digestion, too. However, exceeding this dose gives the opposite effect.
Avoid fishbones to stay healthy at Christmas
Laryngologists call Christmas the fishbone season. Most patients with a fishbone stuck in their throat report on the first day of Christmas. Some do not seek help until the next day as they hope that the bone will dissolve overnight. One should never count on it.
It is less of a problem if it finally gets to the stomach as it will be digested there. However, if it gets stuck in the esophagus wall, it must be removed as soon as possible.
Contrary to popular belief, you should never try to force the stuck fishbone down by swallowing a piece of bread. According to laryngologists, the very swallowing reflex, which consists in tightening the throat muscles, may drive the bone in even deeper. The bread can push it down into the esophagus, which can result in damaging the esophagus wall.
One can try to remove the swallowed fishbone from the throat on one's own or with the help of another person. This usually fails as tiny bones are very difficult to spot in the mucosa. In such a case, one should seek medical help, preferably in an ENT or A&E ward.
To reduce the risk of a fishbone stuck in the throat, one should pay attention while preparing and eating the fish.
