Author: Hannah Pompalla | Category: Health and Medicines | 04/07/2023
Foto: DimaBerlin/Shutterstock
On holidays like Easter there is often a lot of delicious food. The eyes are then often larger than the stomach – with unpleasant consequences such as abdominal pain or flatulence. But how can the digestive problems be relieved? We asked a specialist in internal medicine and naturopathy.
- After a sumptuous feast, herbal bitter substances in the form of drops or teas get the gastrointestinal system going once more.
- Ginger, peppermint, or chamomile tea can soothe the stomach if you feel nauseous.
- Medicinal water and earth are helpful for heartburn.
Dumplings, roasts, cakes: there is often a lot to feast on on public holidays. Particularly healthy and low in calories it is though rarely. In addition, the portions often larger than on other days. The typical consequences of gluttony: abdominal pain, gas, bloating, nausea and heartburn. But why is that actually the case?
High-fat feasts overwhelm the stomach
“The traditional feasts tend to be very high in fat and carbohydrates short-term utilization of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the stomach,” says Professor Jost Langhorst, chief physician and head of the clinic for integrative medicine and naturopathy at the Klinikum am Bruderwald in Bamberg.
“The stomach is designed for a certain volume. If we eat too much, this leads to a relevant downward stretching – and thus to abdominal pain and a feeling of fullness. The stomach eventually reaches its capacity limits,” explains Prof. Langhorst.
“Fat and carbohydrate-rich foods also promote gas production in the intestine.” This effect is further enhanced by flatulent ingredients such as onions, cabbage or beans. “In addition, we often eat large portions in a very short time. We should rather enjoy consciously and slowly. Digestion begins with chewing,” emphasizes the holder of the endowed chair for integrative medicine at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
So if you eat less and more slowly, you prevent indigestion. Fortunately, if it is already “too late”, there are a number of home remedies that can provide relief.
On public holidays, lavish, high-fat dishes are often served. This can easily lead to digestive problems. (Photo: Sergii Koval/Shutterstock)
Stomach pain following eating: This can help
Every body reacts differently following a sumptuous feast. What can you do, for example, once morest abdominal pain or flatulence? “Bitter substances in particular help here,” says naturopathy expert Jost Langhorst. Many positive effects are attributed to the secondary plant substances; they work, among other things relaxing, calming and digestive.
The plants with the highest bitter substance content include the traditional medicinal plants Wormwood and Gentian. Bitter substances are also found in fennel, caraway, aniseed and tormentil. “There are different bitter mixtures in the form of dropswhich can be taken before or following eating.” Alternatively, a tea containing bitter substances can relieve abdominal pain or flatulence.
>>Read more: Tea for stomach ache: These teas relieve stomach ache
Alternatively, use a moist, warm wrap
In addition to or as an alternative to bitter substances, a compress can be used externally. “You can, for example, massage a small handful of caraway or lemon balm oil into your stomach and then put a pleasantly warm hot-water bottle wrapped in a damp linen cloth on top,” says Langhorst.
The hot water bottle supports the absorption of the anticonvulsant ingredients through the skin. The oils might either be bought ready-made or you might make your own.
What also helps effectively once morest feelings of fullness is a classic digestive walk. “The movement deepens breathing and activates the pelvic floor.” This gets the circulation and thus the digestion going.
Ginger works effectively once morest nausea
If the food is particularly greasy, some people complain of nausea followingwards. What home remedies should you use? According to Langhorst, ginger tea is the remedy for nausea: “The pungent substances and essential oils can effectively help once morest nausea.”
In addition, you can also peppermint or chamomile set, either as a tea or in drop form. Because they are also able to calm the stomach thanks to their essential oils. A positive side effect of ginger, peppermint and chamomile: All three plants work once morest flatulence.
Heartburn following eating: what helps?
Heartburn is also one of the typical consequences of a hearty meal. “After a particularly high-fat meal, heartburn is a frequently occurring phenomenon“, Langhorst knows from experience as a gastroenterologist.
The reason: Since fats are difficult to digest, they stimulate the production of stomach acid. At the same time, an overly full stomach can lead to heartburn. Then the complex sealing mechanism at the entrance to the stomach is no longer able to adequately prevent the backflow (“reflux”) of the stomach contents into the esophagus.
But in naturopathy there are also many remedies that can provide relief, according to the specialist. If you suffer from heartburn, you can try the following home remedies:
- medicinal water: Mineral water types with a lot of hydrogen carbonate can bind and neutralize excess stomach acid. “Here the data is condensing that medicinal water can effectively help once morest heartburn.”
- linseed: The mucilage contained lays like a protective film around the sensitive mucous membranes in the stomach and esophagus. The flaxseeds should be swollen beforehand by boiling. It is also important to drink a lot, otherwise the mucous substances “stick together” in the intestine; In the worst case, this can lead to intestinal obstruction.
- Healing earth/drinking bog: The two remedies can also relieve heartburn by binding and neutralizing excess stomach acid.
- bitter substances: The plant substances accelerate gastric emptying, promote digestion and have a generally calming effect.
Eating low-fiber leads to constipation
Sometimes, however, digestive problems do not appear immediately, but only become noticeable a few days following the holiday – in the form of constipation. Why is that? “This is mainly because we are on the public holidays change our eating habits in the short term: We usually take large, high-fat and especially low-fiber meals e.gu us. Dietary fibers in particular are extremely important for the intestines and digestion,” explains chief physician Jost Langhorst.
The dietary fiber eventually swells in the intestines and thus promotes intestinal activity. “Sugary and high-fat foods inhibit the digestive process, which can lead to constipation.” A proven home remedy for constipation is psyllium, as they have a high fiber content and have a slightly laxative effect. They can simply be stirred into a glass of water or juice.
As a rule, however, digestion should return to normal relatively quickly following the holidays. However, if the constipation lasts longer than three weeks, a doctor should be consulted.
Indigestion following eating: when to see the doctor?
In general, the question arises as to when it is time to see a doctor if you have digestive problems following eating? According to Langhorst, temporary digestive problems following gluttony can be explained and are not abnormal. “After a week or two should you But question the symptoms.”
If your digestive habits change significantly, you should see a doctor. Persistent diarrhea in particular is a warning sign that it is better to be examined – “especially if it is accompanied by fever, blood in the stool, vomiting or weight loss,” says the specialist. “Anyone who still has diarrhea following the third week should definitely see a doctor.”
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