To prevent yourself from falling sick, try to avoid taking too much of caffeine during the festive season as excess of caffeine can harm your digestive system. Include salad, fruit and vegetables in your diet, this will add roughage which is good for gut
As the festive season has begun and so does our indulgence in food. Puddings, sweets, ghee-laden puris and all kind of beverages take a toll on our digestive system and we often complain of indigestion, acidity, bloating, constipation and other gastric issues. And, if these problems are dampening the spirit of the festive seasons then fret not. We have come up with some easy ways to take care of your gut health. By following these few simple and effective tips, you can enjoy the festive season comfortably and smoothly. These tips include:
Stay hydrated: We often forget to drink enough water and keep ourselves hydrated during the festive season. However, we should have adequate amount of water to keep ourselves fresh and make our health good as water helps in passing the food from our body. Dehydration can disrupt the smooth function of the gut and when we drink adequate quantity of water, it helps to create our stool softer and with the same it doesn’t constipate you.
Limiting the intake of oily and fatty foods: We all know that festivals do not let us limit our food intake but we need to be cautious and avoid foods that are very high in fat content. The fat rich foods put us at a greater risk of constipation and higher chances of indigestion.
Don’t skip your exercise: Since you have slept late because of the festival season, it should not be an excuse to give your exercise a miss. Go for your daily dose of exercise/workout for healthy and hassle-free digestion during your festival holidays. Exercise improves your gut health too.
Avoiding the intake of caffeine: To prevent yourself from falling sick, try to avoid taking too much of caffeine during the festive season as excesses of caffeine can harm your digestive system. You should balance your diet accordingly. If you’re taking a lot of caffeinated or aerated drinks, then include salads, fruits and veggies in your diet. It will add roughages, which are good for gut health.
Practise moderation: We completely understand that it's difficult to not gorge on the food-items, which you have been waiting for long to eat during the festive season. But you need to practise portion control. As the name suggests, it means we don't have to avoid the food we love but we have to eat in moderation. The best way to do is to limit the portion size by using smaller plates, utensils and serving spoons.
Relax and breathe: Irregularity of sleep and food is quite common during the festive season. Therefore, sometimes such erratic schedules can lead to stress. Relaxing for a while is very important for your body to stay healthy. Festivities don’t mean you should forget to keep calm.
Plan your day wisely: By this we mean that you need to plan your day keeping in mind your health. Enough sleep, less intake of sugary snacks, planning your meals is important. To keep your body fresh all day, you need to take care of all the things. A good planning lets you to enjoy the festival in a more healthy, relaxed and better way.
The writer is Dr Praveen Jha ,MD, DM, Consultant Gastroenterology at Regency Superspeciality Hospital