Protecting Your GI Health During The Holidays

The holiday season offers many delicious foods that many people look forward to. Those who suffer from gastrointestinal issues must be especially careful throughout the holidays to avoid dealing with significant problems. With a calculated plan and monitoring of your diet, you can ensure that you enjoy all that the holiday season offers. Here are a few ways to protect your gastrointestinal health during the holiday season.

Watch Your Portion Size

It makes sense to want to enjoy large quantities of food during the holidays because it may be the only time of year that certain items are available. However, eating large food portions can set you up for significant trouble if you do so repeatedly. Protecting your GI health begins with having reasonably sized plates of food and not overdoing them. Not only can large portions of food make you extremely uncomfortable, but it can also give your body the difficult task of trying to digest it all, worsening digestive issues. By cutting back on the amount of food on your plate, you can reduce the work your digestive system has to do, helping you avoid problems and protect your long-term health.

Stay Away From Processed Foods

If you suffer from gastrointestinal problems, you understand the effect that eating processed foods can have on your body. Although the holiday season increases the temptation to eat processed food items, you should still keep from eating them. Heavily processed food items such as 

• Fried food items
• Sodas
• Fruit Juices
• And Pastries can contribute to your worst GI symptoms, and avoiding the temptation to consume them is your safest bet for protecting yourself during the holidays.

Drink Plenty of Water

It may sound simple, but many people don’t make drinking water a priority during the holidays. Nonetheless, staying hydrated is crucial to keeping your digestive system functioning at its best. Drinking enough water helps you avoid the discomfort of constipation because your digestive system is well-lubricated, helping it to keep things moving along properly.

Avoid Dairy Products and Beans

Although dairy products and beans have benefits like calcium and protein, they can wreak havoc on your digestive system. Byproducts of these foods can include bloating, gas, and stomach pain, which can put a damper on your holiday plans. 

Limiting your consumption of these foods, or avoiding them altogether, can help ensure that you enjoy yourself during the holidays.

Sometimes, you may need some extra help to handle your GI issues. Our office is happy to provide you with the assistance you may need. Please schedule a consultation by calling us today at 301-979-7078.