The festive season is full of indulgence, with Christmas parties, advent calendar chocolates, big turkey dinners and all the cheese you can imagine.
While we still have a few weeks until the mince pies come out, it could be a good idea to check whether you have problems with your gut before you start chomping on gingerbread cookies and Yule log, so you don’t aggravate symptoms and give yourself an uncomfortable festive period.
How can Christmas foods worsen gut symptoms?
The reason why it is sensible to book a gut health assessment as part of longevity testing in Brighton before the Christmas tunes hit the air waves is because the foods we love to tuck into over the season can worsen any underlying digestive issues.
Sugar
Firstly, lots of sugar is consumed over Christmas, from chocolate selection boxes to endless cakes. Eating excess sugar feeds any harmful bacteria you may have in your stomach, which can result in uncomfortable symptoms, such as bloating and gas.
Processed
Much of what we eat over Christmas is processed. Even though we think we’re slaving away at the stove most of the season, the reality is we’re buying lots of party food, snacks, and ready-made dishes that are full of additives.
Not only do these result in bloating and discomfort, but they can also reduce the amount of good bacteria in your gut.
Fizzy
You might go all year without drinking fizzy drinks and then Christmas arrives and you’re celebrating with Buck’s Fizz, toasting with Prosecco, and enjoying a lemonade or two at a family gathering.
The problem is carbonated drinks trap air when you consume them, which can lead to bloating and extra gas.
Fatty foods
Christmas is synonymous with rich foods, such as stinky cheeses, buttery cakes, thick creams and meaty starters or side dishes. This excess fat can sit in the stomach, taking longer to digest.
This can lead to constipation due to the slower digestion, making you feel full and uncomfortable for longer. It can also result in heartburn and acid reflux, as fatty foods relax the muscle between the oesophagus and stomach, enabling stomach acid to make its way up.
Fibre
Eating more fibre than usual, especially on Christmas Day with all those brussel sprouts, can also cause a problem to your gut. This is because overloading the body with fibre can result in wind, and cramps, constipation or diarrhoea.
Benefits of gut testing
The advantage of having your gut microbiome tested before Christmas is that you will find out what foods trigger your painful symptoms, so you know what to avoid or eat less of over the festive season.
You could also start taking specific supplements or probiotics suited to you that will help you enjoy the celebrations without feeling as much discomfort.