Christmas and New Year are festive holidays and with them come an abundance of food and alcoholic beverages. But while it's the time to be merry and indulge, it is also the time of year when indigestion and hangovers can become common problems.

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is defined in layman's terms as an upset stomach.

Nutritionist Garth Officer notes that there are many causes of indigestion linked to eating patterns.

"Indigestion can be caused by a range of things such as drinking and eating at the same time, eating too fast, eating spicy food, and also eating too many variations of food at once. All these can cause digestive problems when the food cannot be properly digested."

At a time when people look forward to satisfying their cravings, Officer cautions them to do so wisely because indigestion can cause some level of discomfort. "People can experience discomfort and nausea to the point where they will feel like throwing up, and they sometimes get a bloated feeling."

Prevention

He says preventing indigestion starts with the individual. He encourages people to spend time eating properly and not to eat rapidly. He also encourages persons to eat in moderation and to focus more on quality, not quantity.

However, if indigestion occurs, there are over-the-counter medication which can be used to ease the discomfort.

Hangovers

Another common occurrence during the season is hangovers. This can lead to great discomfort. A hangover is the result of excess alcohol in the system.

According to nutritionist Frances Mahfood, symptoms of a hangover stem from the body's attempt to process alcohol and to rid itself of it.

People suffering from a hangover can experience nausea and dizziness. It can also trigger migraines and headaches. Mahfood recommends drinking a glass of water after each glass of alcohol to reduce hangover symptoms. "The body processes three-quarter ounce of alcohol in one hour, which is why drinking a glass of water helps to alleviate symptoms," she says. She also emphasises drinking on a full stomach.

She noted that there were certain food items which could be consumed to alleviate the effects of a hangover the morning after.

"Eggs, the morning after, provide energy, which is the primary benefit. Eggs potentially mop up the leftover toxins from alcohol."

The fructose (fruit sugar) in natural fruit juices is also helpful in increasing the body's energy the morning after, notes Mahfood. This, she says, increases the rate at which the body gets rid of toxins.

The nutritionist also recommends drinking a lot of water and sports beverages since alcohol tends to dehydrate the body.

It is the season to eat drink and be merry but, like everything else, do so in moderation. Don't ruin your holidays because of overindulgence.

latoya.grindley@gleanerjm.com