Best Holiday Traditions:
· Macy's Christmas Light Show in Center City
· Miracle on South 13th Street in South Philly
· Christmas Village in LOVE Park
· Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest
· Scuba Santa at Adventure Aquarium
· Christmas Fantasy with Lights Parade in South Jersey
Worst Holiday Traditions:
· Heartburn
· Indegestion
· Tummy issues
· Spending the night in the bathroom battling back demons
It's that time of year for food, food, and more food. And while we're all about getting down with some turkey, prime rib, sugar cookies, and pie – about 60 million of us are preparing for a night of hot, burning pain.
Well, we say no more! This year, you shall attend every party (at least the ones you want to), enjoy every meal, and visit the potty entirely on your terms. Yes, for with these tips below, you will holiday with confidence, my friend.
1. Warning: trigger foods
Trigger foods are different for everyone. Spicy foods may destroy you, whereas dairy wreaks havoc on someone else. The key is identifying what food causes your stomach issues and doing everything you can to avoid them. Traditionally around the holidays – cranberry sauce and turkey skin tends to be a culprit.
2. Carbonation is not your friend
Alcohol and soda put a lot of pressure on your stomach, especially with everything else you're tossing down there. Non-carbonated beverages could make a huge difference.
3. Eat less. Eat slow.
The more food in your stomach, the more likely your stomach will overproduce acids to break it down. This means an increased chance those acids will head back up your throat, feeling like a dragon is escaping from your esophagus. The key here is to take your time and allow your stomach to do its job.
4. Keep it loose
A simple tip is to avoid waist-clinching clothes. For starters, they’re way more comfortable – sweatpants are life. But ultimately, tight-fitting clothes can pinch your stomach, resulting in heartburn.
5. Keep things moving
There's nothing like that post-turkey nap to recharge the engines and prepare for the next course. But lying down is probably the worst thing you can do on a full stomach, as it makes natural digestion harder. A better idea would be to get up, go for a walk, and get some fresh air.
At the end of the day, if you've been dealing with persistent digestive issues, it might be more than your mother-in-law's stuffing. The good news: our friends at Virtua GI and Digestive Health can help. In fact, they’ve built a comprehensive program with experienced gastroenterologists that can help with gut issues big or small.
Take their gut health quiz today to see if you might benefit from meeting with a digestive specialist. And have a happy, heartburn-free holiday, everyone!
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