John Myers
Sweet, greasy, or spicy foods can upset the stomach on the holidays, and alcohol and nicotine can also irritate it. A few simple home remedies can help alleviate the symptoms.
Chocolate, gingerbread, and marzipan, plus roast goose and lots of alcohol: the stomach often has to perform at its best on Christmas Day. Larger amounts of sweet, fatty, or spicy foods cause it to produce more stomach acid – and this attacks the stomach lining. The simplest remedy for the symptoms: Avoid fatty, sugary, or spicy foods and also reduce coffee and citrus, and carbonated drinks as much as possible. It is also helpful to avoid stress, get enough sleep and eat meals regularly.
Home remedies for stomach pain
If the symptoms have already occurred, home remedies can help. A few teaspoons of dry oatmeal chewed slowly, or a tablespoon of light flaxseed, mixed with water and drunk throughout the day, have proven effective. Cumin, chamomile, or peppermint tea can help with cramp-like symptoms. Important: The stomach must not be too empty. Dishes of simple home cooking such as mashed potatoes with carrots are particularly easy on the stomach.
Tips against heartburn
Drinking plenty of fluids, such as milk, tea, or water, helps flush the gastric juices down the esophagus. The drink should not contain carbonic acid. Peppermint tea is also unsuitable for heartburn: it can weaken the sphincter muscle at the entrance to the stomach and promote heartburn. Almonds that are chewed and swallowed or a teaspoon of healing clay that has been dissolved in a glass of water help against the acute burning sensation.
Stop eating heavy meals before bed and sleep with your upper body slightly elevated or on your left side. This means that the gastric juice cannot flow into the esophagus as quickly.
If symptoms persist, see a doctor
If the symptoms last longer, you should consult a specialist. Frequent heartburn, especially in older patients, can lead to bleeding, narrowing, or scarring of the esophagus and, in rare cases, even cause cancer. In the case of stomach pain, there could be chronic irritation of the gastric mucosa. The bacterium Helicobacter pylori can cause inflammation of the stomach lining and eventually lead to a dangerous stomach ulcer.
