During Advent and Christmas – especially at the holidays – we put our stomachs through a lot. With the quantities of cookies, mulled wine, stollen, dominoes and roast goose that we eat every year in December, it’s no wonder that our stomachs eventually fight back: bloating, flatulence and heartburn are among the typical consequences of an extensive feast. We reveal how you can get through the Christmas season without stomach problems and what helps if you do overdo it.
No Christmas without a feast
A sumptuous feast belongs for many to Christmas just as the gifts under the Christmas tree. There is, for example, roast goose with potato dumplings and red cabbage and for dessert still a large portion of tiramisu. After the actual meal, there are cookies, dominoes and all kinds of other sweet treats. And all of this is available in great quantities. In short: Christmas food is usually too greasy, too sweet and, above all, too much. No wonder the stomach rebels. With a few simple tricks, however, you can get through the holidays without stomach problems – it’s quite easy:
Allowed are:
- Light soups and salads as an appetizer.
- Use low-fat meat or fish
- Eat consciously – so you can also enjoy smaller portions
Only allowed in moderation:
- Fatty foods such as roast goose
- Very sweet foods such as cookies or stollen
Temptations at the Christmas market
Not only at Christmas itself, but also in the weeks before, our stomach has to go through a lot. Because at the Christmas market, it is easy to be tempted: here, delicious delicacies are waiting for us on every corner – but unfortunately, these are usually anything but well tolerated. Of course, you’re allowed to try them, but if you load your stomach with bratwurst, French fries, roasted almonds and crêpes at the same time, the food can turn sour. So don’t overdo it for the sake of your stomach! Or at least resort in between to something stomach-friendlier alternatives such as hot chestnuts, baked apples or fried mushrooms (without cream sauce).
Strike a balance
Generally speaking, there’s nothing wrong with indulging in a bigger feast once in a while during Advent and Christmas. But often it does not remain with a feast, but a true food marathon takes place, which brings the stomach to its limits. So that your stomach doesn’t give out, you should give it a break now and then. If you have overdone it at lunch, for example, let the dinner be a little smaller or do without it altogether. Alternatively, the next day you can consciously choose only foods that do not put too much strain on your stomach: make yourself a soup, a salad or eat a light fish dish with rice. It is also important that you drink enough – preferably between two and three liters per day. Make use of mineral water or unsweetened herbal teas. Exercise also helps to relax the stomach during the Christmas season: Just take a short walk through the city after the Christmas market or go outside a little longer on the weekend.
When the stomach grumbles
Despite all the good intentions, it can happen quickly on the Christmas holidays that the stomach makes problems once. And heartburn, bloating and Co. can spoil our joy at Christmas quickly. But don’t worry: with a few simple home remedies, the symptoms can usually be quickly brought under control. Read here what helps against heartburn, flatulence, bloating and stomach pain.
4 tips against heartburn
These tips help against heartburn:
- Avoid spicy as well as very fatty dishes. You should also enjoy alcoholic beverages only in moderation.
- Take several small meals rather than three large meals. If the stomach is full to bursting, this increases the pressure and promotes the development of heartburn.
- Tea with chamomile, fennel or caraway can help relieve heartburn.
- Do not eat anything three hours before you go to bed. Then the stomach is largely empty when you go to bed and no heartburn occurs during the night.
4 tips against flatulence
If you suffer from flatulence, you should follow these tips:
- Flatulence is particularly caused by foods such as cabbage or onions – if in doubt, avoid these foods.
- Teas in the varieties of fennel, anise or caraway can prevent or relieve flatulence.
- Avoid carbonated drinks – so less air enters the intestine. Also make sure to eat in peace and chew food thoroughly.
- Relief often provide heat, for example, by a hot water bottle, or herbal bitter remedies such as gentian root, centaury or angelica root.
3 Tips against bloating
These tips will help get bloating under control:
- You can prevent bloating by mixing some caraway seeds into your food. The spice ensures that the food becomes more digestible.
- A cup of espresso can boost digestion after a rich meal. From the ever-popular digestive liquor, however, you should better leave the fingers: Because alcohol inhibits fat burning – so the food is even longer heavy in your stomach.
- Artichokes (there are also as juice or capsules) are rich in bitter substances that stimulate the liver and gall bladder and thus help that the body is freed more quickly from toxins.
3 Tips against stomach pain
If you have a stomach ache, the following tips can help relieve the discomfort:
- Lie on the sofa with a warm hot water bottle or a warm cherry pit pillow and rest.
- A warm peppermint or chamomile tea helps to calm the upset stomach again.
- Refrain from lush, fatty foods, but reach for soups, salads or vegetables – this is easy on the stomach.
