Feeling bloated after eating a holiday meal doesn’t have to be an annual fair. Attending family gatherings or Friendsgiving events can be free of pain and discomfort with just a few smart steps to increase your digestion and decrease your bloating. If you’re the kind of person who just can’t refuse more than one plate of Thanksgiving dinner, or lunch, or leftover brunch the following day, take care of yourself to avoid the dreaded Thanksgiving bender hangover. Learn how to ease your holiday bloat and not get stuck feeling stuffed this year.
What Causes Thanksgiving Bloat?
Unfortunately, bloat is most often the result of three main factors: overeating, too many simple carbs, and increased salt consumption. Dairy, bubbly drinks, high-fat items, and quick eating come in as secondary factors, respectively. Traditional Thanksgiving meals include many if not all of these factors in one sitting.
Easing Your Holiday Bloat
You likely won’t be able to refuse a second helping of grandma’s pie if she insists you have some. Likewise, if your mom made the turkey, you’ll have to have seconds whether it’s good or not; you are a team player, after all. Try detox for gas in combination with these top tips for reducing holiday bloat.
Tip #1
Fill and Refill Your Water Glass
Staying hydrated is the most important and easiest way to decrease holiday bloat. Your body needs water to, ahem, keep things moving efficiently. If your friends or family are holiday drinkers, go into dinner with a plan. For every glass of wine or can of beer you drink, be sure to alternate with a full glass of water. Detoxify your body to reduce bloating. Go with no ice to get the total amount of ounces in your belly.
Tip #2
Find Something Green and Eat It
This tip can indeed be difficult in a famously carb-laden feast. However, there is usually at least one green item at the Thanksgiving table. If you know that there won’t be a green dish at the dinner, be a good guest and bring a salad or a plate of steamed greens or roasted zucchini or asparagus for everyone else to enjoy. Greens combined with an activated charcoal alternative should have you well on your way to feeling fine. Your stomach will thank you later.
Tip #3
Get Up and Get Moving
Almost every movie or television show that features Thanksgiving includes football afterward. Don’t give in to the allure of the game unless, of course, you plan to make a few touchdowns yourself. If you have a group of sports lovers on your hands, suggest creating a new tradition of a game of touch football or flag football for a friendly competition to carry over throughout the years and generations to come. If weather permits, consider inviting your family out for a walk to get things moving.
No matter the time of day you enjoy your feast and festivities, keep these tips in mind to decrease bloating and increase holiday fun without the discomfort of gas and indigestion.
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