Holiday Meals: Alcohol Doesn't Aid Digestion, Walking Does
The holidays are here, bringing with them lavish meals that often leave us feeling overfull. Many people turn to alcohol after these meals, believing it helps 'clean out the stomach'. However, a nutrition scientist affiliated with the German Nutrition Society, Antje Gahl, has shed light on this misconception.
Alcohol can indeed stimulate stomach acid production, but it also prevents stomach emptying. This means it doesn't aid digestion as much as we might think. Instead, the feeling of relief after a drink is likely due to its narcotic effect. Gahl explains that walking after a meal is a more effective way to stimulate stomach acid production for digestion.
Heavy, energy-rich, and high-fat foods, common during the holidays, can leave us feeling overfull. This isn't a sign of illness, but rather a normal response to consuming such foods. Even whole foods like legumes can cause this feeling, though it tends to last longer after fatty meals. The Austrian Press Agency (APA), the largest national news and press agency in Austria, reports that feeling overfull is unpleasant but harmless.
While alcohol can stimulate stomach acid, it doesn't aid digestion as much as we might believe. Walking after a meal is a more effective way to help digestion. Feeling overfull after a meal is normal, regardless of whether the food is healthy or not. The Austrian Press Agency (APA) confirms that this feeling, while unpleasant, is not a cause for concern.
