Eating Our Way Through the Holidays

We all want to look good in our holiday clothes while wining and dining our way through the holiday season. However, that is hard to do while still fitting into our fitted holiday outfits. Some clothes are not very forgiving when we start eating rich desserts or so many foods different from our regular routine that we wind up bloated.

Bloating is when the stomach becomes swollen. It is rarely a sign of a serious medical condition, yet it can be uncomfortable. It is more of a sign of overdoing it by eating certain foods or combinations of foods. Foods that cause
bloating in one person may not affect another person; everyone is different.

The foods that cause most stomach issues are:

Beans. They have a high fiber content and contain sugar that the body can find hard to break down and digest.

Wheat, rye, and barley. They have a protein called gluten, which can cause bloating, gas, stomach pain, and diarrhea.

Onions and garlic. They contain fructans, which are soluble fibers that may cause bloating.

Cruciferous vegetables. These include cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and garden cress. They can cause undesirable digestive symptoms, including bloating.

Dairy. Some people have a condition called lactose intolerance, which means their bodies are unable to break down lactose, the sugar in milk products. According to one report, 75% of the world population will lose the ability to digest lactose during their lifetime.

Carbonated beverages. They have carbonated dioxide gas to create the bubbles. It goes directly to the digestive tract and causes bloating.

Non-nutritive sweeteners. These are artificial sweeteners that replace sugar in sweet beverages, foods, and chewing gum and may cause digestive problems, gas, and bloating.

Alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is an inflammatory substance, and consuming it may cause inflammation of the gastrointestinal lining.

Apples and pears. They have plenty of fiber, which can also cause significant bloating.