Gastrointestinal problems – When foods cause bloating and abdominal pain
At the end of the year, and as it gets colder and darker, many of us have hearty dishes on our menu, especially during the Christmas season with its greasy foods such as roast goose, raclette or fondue.
However, heavy, fatty foods can irritate our stomach and intestines and lead to complaints such as bloating, abdominal pain or flatulence. This is caused by our digestive system: In the stomach, the fats ingested together with the food are mixed with the gastric juices by what we call peristalsis, the stomach’s motion. This helps to break them down into their components – which is important for the body to utilise them. In the intestine, the fats ingested together with food are further broken down with the help of bile. The resulting fatty acids serve as energy suppliers. Fat-soluble vitamins are also absorbed into the bloodstream via the intestinal wall. As our intestines can only process fats in moderation, they are overtaxed by too much. Especially saturated fatty acids are difficult to digest and can lead to gastrointestinal problems.
Avoid stomach complaints and digestive problems – by switching to healthy fats
Healthy fats and oils should be preferred to relieve the gastrointestinal tract and prevent gastrointestinal problems. These include unsaturated fatty acids contained in, for example, vegetable oils such as rapeseed and olive oil. Healthy oils are easily digestible and also support the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D and E. Saturated fatty acids, which can have a negative effect on cholesterol levels, are considered to be less healthy. These are mainly found in animal foods such as meat, sausage, dairy products as well as in bakery products and are difficult to digest.
Recommendation: In general, lighter foods are better for your digestion - even at festive Christmas dinners. Instead of fatty roast goose, serve fish or roast turkey as an alternative.
What can help in the event of gastrointestinal problems?
Gastrointestinal problems such as bloating and abdominal pain can be alleviated with easy-to-digest foods (e.g. carrots or bananas), by drinking herbal teas that soothe the stomach and a soothing hot-water bottle. Herbal medication containing artichoke extract (e.g. Aristochol® Gallekapseln [bile capsules]) or peppermint oil (e.g. Divalol® Galletropfen [bile drops]) can also support the function of the stomach and intestines, help to alleviate bloating and contribute to painless digestion of fatty foods. For heartburn following a festive meal, Panto® Aristo Tabletten for example, can help to regulate gastric acid. In the event of acute diarrhoea, Aristo Pharma’s portfolio includes suitable medication to alleviate the symptoms: Loperamid® akut Aristo stops diarrhoea and the glucose-electrolyte mix Saltadol® Glucose-Elektrolyt-Mischung helps to balance the loss of fluids and electrolytes in order to prevent dehydration.
1 Elmadfa I. Ernährungslehre. Vol. 2509. 2019. S 25f
