2023-12-05 09:37:00
Verified on 05/12/2023 by Alexane Flament, Editor
The many hearty and fatty meals served each year during the end-of-year holidays lead to an increase in certain diseases. Explanations!
Several illnesses can be triggered during holiday meals…
According to Véronique Liesse, dietitian-nutritionist, end-of-year holiday meals cause bad cholesterol, indigestion, hypertension as well as sleep disorders.
« Indeed, whether it is diabetes, hypertensionnsion or dyslipidemia (raised cholesterol), these pathologies tend to worsen during the Christmas period » she says.
A heart attack or heart attack on Christmas Eve?
According to a Danish study by Swedeheart published in the British Medical Journalthe risk of having a heart attack increases sharply on Christmas Eve evening, with a peak of 37% compared to normal around 10 p.m.
More generally, heart attacks are up 15%. The probability of dying increases by 20% on January 1st!
An increase in bad cholesterol
During this holiday season, bad cholesterol levels would increase an increase which would be up to 6 times higher than the rest of the year according to the Danish study.
This is partly explained by excess food and alcohol during meals.
According to the researchers: “ These are all hyperglycemic foods that raise bad cholesterol levels. », such as aperitif cakes, cold meats, foie gras, meats in sauce or stuffed and Christmas logs.
An opinion shared by Véronique Liesse: “ Out of 100% of your cholesterol, you have 25% which comes directly from food of animal origin (meat, eggs, cheese, etc.) and 75% which you manufacture, specified. In fact, it is from carbohydrates and lipids (sugars and fats) that you make it. These are all hyperglycemic foods like those [à index glycémique élevé ou riches en glucides] which raise bad cholesterol levels. So, inevitably, during the holidays, it explodes because of your overeating ».
High cholesterol, leading to clogged and narrowed arteries, increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Severe indigestion
Véronique Liesse indicates that “ short term, the first risk will be indigestionif you have a series of excesses during the holidays “, especially animal fats, alcohol and chocolate which are difficult to digest.
« The liver is a filter, responsible for eliminating the toxins that we ingest. And when it becomes overwhelmed, it will no longer be able to perform its function. The body will then try to eliminate the toxins more quickly, through vomiting and diarrhea. It’s a liver crisis » explains Raphaël Gruman, nutritionist.
Sleep disorders
« Alcohol and heavy meals will actually impact sleep » according to the nutritionist, disrupting the quality of sleep.
The body, having difficulty digesting excess, will produce and spend more energy to eliminate it, thus affecting your sleep. In addition, alcohol promotes snoring or sleep apnea.
L’hypertension
A large quantity of salt, present in cold meats, cheese or bread, can lead to hypertension, heart attack, diabetes and certain cancers.
“Excess salt stiffens the arteries and thus promotes high blood pressure, one of the main risk factors for myocardial infarction and stroke” develops Raphaël Gruman.
The French Federation of Cardiology specifies that reducing salt consumption to 6g per day would prevent 35,000 people from dying from a stroke or cardiovascular disease.
Salt, transformed into sodium in the body, turns into water. This causes an increase in the volume of blood flowing through the arteries and increases blood pressure. Blood clots can then occur and cause a heart attack. So remember to balance the dose of salt!
In reasonable quantities, holiday meals are not dangerous, especially if you watch your diet the rest of the year. The important thing is to have fun as a family, while eating a balanced diet.
1701770171
#Illnesses #family #meals #Christmas
