Went just a little overboard on the buffet? If you’re feeling it in your gut, here is why-and how to handle it.
YOU HAVE
Excess Gas
CULPRITS Maybe you overdid it by eating a meal loaded with fruit, veggies, dairy, fat, or fiber. Or maybe you simply ate too much. Now the gas bubbles trapped in your abdomen are giving you belly bloat or causing a flatulence fest. If you’ve recently started eating healthier, your stomach may simply be showing its disapproval at an indulgence. “Your body’s no more familiar with eating rich Foods, so it can take longer to digest them, which provides you that bloated feeling,” explains Jhon Pather, M.D., M.P.H.,an associate professor of medicine.
CURE Sip a cup of peppermint tea or take an OTC medication with simethicone (such as Gas-X) to break up air bubbles. Taking a brisk walk helps as well move gas through.
SEE THE DOC IF Your symptoms persist or include vomiting or loss of appetite. Worst case: You could have an infection such as Hepatitis A, which your system has to clear on its own.
YOU HAVE
Heartburn
CULPRITS Eating a large meal or spicy foods may cause a burning sensation in your chest (due to gastric acid flowing back up into your esophagus). Downing way too many cocktails, including wine,can also trigger heartburn.
CURE Taking OTC medications (for example Pepcid or Zantac) an hour or so before you eat may help protect against symptoms. If drinking wine triggers your heartburn, switching from red to white wine may help. Also, excess weight put pressure on your stomach, so reducing your weight may help reduce heartburn.
SEE THE DOC IF Symptoms persist or you have heartburn many times a week, difficulty swallowing, or a persistent cough. You can have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is common in people with excess abdominal fat. Proton pump inhibitors (for example Prilosec), which prevent the release of gastric acid, are a good treatment option.
YOU HAVE
Constipation
CULPRITS Full-fat dairy products, rich desserts, and processed foods can cause rock-hard stools which are hard to pass, or your bowel motions may stop altogether.
CURE Drink 1 1/2 to 2 quarts of fluid each day; water is better, particularly if you are looking to lose weight naturally. You should avoid coffee and caffeinated soft drinks, which could have a dehydrating effect-making your symptoms worse. One go-to OTC remedy, milk of magnesia, can aggravate symptoms if taken for longer than a couple of days. Instead, opt for a combination of exercise and fiber-rich foods just like whole-grain toast, artichokes, and pears to soften stool and stimulate intestinal activity.
SEE THE DOC In case your symptoms persist. You might have a more serious colon-related condition.
YOU HAVE
Diarrhea
CULPRITS A case of the runs could be due to a foodborne or viral illness. Other causes can sometimes include a course of antibiotics you have recently taken, or simply something you ate that disagrees with you. Also, the sugar alcohols present in some light or sugar-free products could cause your stomach to run amok.
CURE Review your childhood and eat the diet that doctors recommend for sick kids: BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast). Also, since diarrhea is dehydrating, drink an extra 2 to 4 glasses of water daily.
SEE THE DOC IF Your bouts of diarrhea are chronic or recurrent. You might have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which can cause diarrhea, constipation, or both. Your doc can suggest treatment plans, which may include a combination of medication, exercise, and relaxation techniques.
