How to Deal With Indigestion After a Hearty Holiday Meal
Sometimes it just happens. You eat something tasty – maybe something that you don’t eat very often – and even though your brain and stomach know they are full, you make your way a few more times. And then maybe dessert.
Whether you’re preparing a big holiday lunch or ordering takeout at your favorite local spot, there is at least a chance that you will eat a little more than you can comfortably hold today. If this happens, you may experience an attack of indigestion. Here are some ways to calm your insides when you feel like you might explode.
What is indigestion?
If you didn’t grow up in an era where Alka-Seltzer advertised the condition on TV all the time, here’s what you need to know about indigestion. Also known as “indigestion” or simply upset stomach, “indigestion” is a term for many different symptoms associated with digestion , including uncomfortable fullness, bloating, burning in the upper abdomen, and nausea.
Indigestion can occur for a variety of reasons other than overeating in one sitting. Some of these are potentially serious health problems, so if you experience these symptoms frequently, it might be time to talk to your doctor. But today, the focus is on getting to feel like a human again after a hearty meal.
How to deal with indigestion
Many people have their own favorite indigestion remedies, so it might take a little trial and error before figuring out which one works best for you. Here are some options:
- Get up and walk.
- Drink as much water as you can.
- Some people find ginger ale to help with indigestion, but others find ginger tea to be much more effective .
- Chewing gum can help reduce heartburn.
- Another way to treat heartburn is with a baking soda decoction.
- Sleeping in a specific position can also help with acid reflux.
- If all else fails, wear loose clothing, sit back and wait.
And as tempting as it is to take an antacid, “excess stomach acid does not cause stomach upset, so using antacids will not help your stomach upset,” says the Cleveland Clinic .
Do you have your own reliable remedy for indigestion? Feel free to share them in the comments below.