What Helps Digestion After Overeating? 6 Tips (2024)

  • Harmful Effects
    • What are the harmful effects of overeating?
  • How to Avoid Overeating
    • How can you avoid overeating?
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Most of us must have overdone it at some point—overindulging in a favorite meal and then regretting it immediately afterwards. If you feel bloated and uncomfortable, don’t despair. Here are 6 tips for helping your digestive system:

  1. Relax. Don’t beat yourself up over one binge session. Stress can negatively affect digestion, and giving yourself a guilt trip may lead to more indigestion.
  2. Don’t take a nap. As tempting as it may be, don’t lie down or go to sleep. This can cause reflux and slow digestion. Stay upright until your food has had time to settle in your stomach.
  3. Take a walk. Walking can help stimulate your digestive system and help your blood sugar levels even out. Avoid strenuous exercise, however, since this can cause blood flow to your legs or arms instead of to your gut.
  4. Sip some water. Don’t gulp it down all at once, but take a few sips of water throughout the day. Drinking water can help your body flush out excess sodium and prevent constipation.
  5. Avoid carbonated drinks. Sodas and fizzy drinks can make you feel even more gassy and bloated.
  6. Take some probiotics. Yogurt or other probiotic sources can help aid digestion and may also provide relief from heartburn after a heavy meal.

What are the harmful effects of overeating?

If you have a tendency to overeat frequently, it’s important to be aware of the negative effects it can have on your body.

Short-term side effects of overeating

  • Makes your stomach expand past its normal size, putting pressure on other organs and causing abdominal pain or bloating.
  • Makes your digestive system work harder, which may disturb normal enzyme and hormonal levels.
  • Causes the stomach to secrete more acids, which may travel up your esophagus and lead to heartburn.
  • Produces excess gas in the gut which can be uncomfortable and embarrassing.
  • Increases your metabolic rate, which can make you feel sweaty, hot, and giddy.

Long-term side effects of overeating

How can you avoid overeating?

Below are tips to avoid overeating:

  • Plan your meals.
  • Control your portion sizes.
  • Include foods in your diet that keep you full for longer, such as vegetables, fruit, and lean meat.
  • Eat slowly, since it can take about 20 minutes for your brain to recognize that you are full.
  • Take small bites and chew your food thoroughly.
  • Pay attention while you're eating and avoid watching TV or other distractions.
  • Keep a record of your eating habits, both good and bad, in a diary or journal. Reflect on what went wrong and focus on how to correct it.
  • Stay physically active.
  • Stay hydrated, as drinking water can control hunger.
  • Manage stress.

If you find yourself overeating often, you may have a condition called binge eating disorder, which can take a huge toll on your health. Talk to your doctor if you are worried.

What Helps Digestion After Overeating? 6 Tips (2)

SLIDESHOW

Super Tips to Boost Digestive Health: Bloating, Constipation, and More See Slideshow

References

https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-what-to-do-after-overeating

https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/digestive-health/4-ways-to-stop-digestive-discomfort-after-a-supersized-meal

What Helps Digestion After Overeating? 6 Tips (2024)

FAQs

How to aid digestion after overeating? ›

What should I do after overeating?
  1. Take a walk. Getting moderate exercise can help reduce gas and regulate your blood sugar.
  2. Stay hydrated. ...
  3. Herbal teas, like peppermint, chamomile and ginger can help with digestion and reduce gas.
  4. Taking an over-the-counter antacid may help relieve heartburn or indigestion.

What settles your stomach after eating too much? ›

Try herbal tea. In particular, peppermint, chamomile and ginger tea can help reduce gas. Take a walk or stroll. Gentle exercise — emphasis on gentle — helps stimulate digestion.

How do I reset my stomach after eating too much? ›

How to recover after binge eating
  1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. ...
  2. Fill up on high-fiber, nutrient-rich foods and lean protein. ...
  3. Eat regular meals and snacks, and avoid going long hours without eating. ...
  4. Get active. ...
  5. Hit the sack. ...
  6. Give mindful eating a try. ...
  7. When to ask for help.
Feb 12, 2024

What helps digest food immediately? ›

Here are 6 tips for helping your digestive system:
  • Relax. Don't beat yourself up over one binge session. ...
  • Don't take a nap. As tempting as it may be, don't lie down or go to sleep. ...
  • Take a walk. ...
  • Sip some water. ...
  • Avoid carbonated drinks. ...
  • Take some probiotics.

What to drink to settle the stomach? ›

Treatment
  • Sports drinks.
  • Clear, non-caffeinated sodas such as 7-Up, Sprite or ginger ale.
  • Diluted juices such as apple, grape, cherry or cranberry (avoid citrus juices)
  • Clear soup broth or bouillon.
  • Popsicles.
  • Decaffeinated tea.

What drink helps with digestion? ›

Herbal and spiced teas: This includes peppermint tea, turmeric tea, ginger tea, and fennel tea. The herbs and spices in the tea can reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms of digestive distress. Prune juice: Full of fiber, this beverage can encourage bowel movements.

How do you get a flat stomach after eating too much? ›

  1. 7 belly-flattening food tips. ...
  2. Eat fiber-rich foods. ...
  3. Incorporate probiotics into your diet. ...
  4. Rule out wheat allergies or lactose intolerance. ...
  5. Watch what you drink. ...
  6. Eat healthy fats. ...
  7. Limit salt intake. ...
  8. Go easy on refined sugar.

How to reduce a bloated stomach? ›

How to reduce bloating
  1. exercise regularly to improve your digestion and help prevent bloating – exercise can also help when you're feeling bloated.
  2. chew with your mouth closed to avoid swallowing air.
  3. drink plenty of water.
  4. eat foods high in fibre if constipated.
  5. eat smaller, more frequent meals instead of large meals.

How do I detox my guts? ›

How can I clean my colon naturally?
  1. Hydration. Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated is a great way to regulate digestion. ...
  2. Saltwater flush. You can also try a salt water flush. ...
  3. High fiber diet. ...
  4. Juices and smoothies. ...
  5. Juice fast. ...
  6. More resistant starches. ...
  7. Probiotics. ...
  8. Herbal teas.

What herb kills stomach bacteria? ›

The researchers found that cedarwood oil and oregano oil were the most active at inhibiting the growth of H. pylori bacteria. Cedarwood oil was also effective at inhibiting urease activity at sub-inhibitory concentrations.

How do you restart your digestive system? ›

7 things you can do for your gut health
  1. Lower your stress levels. Chronic high levels of stress are hard on your whole body, including your gut. ...
  2. Get enough sleep. ...
  3. Eat slowly. ...
  4. Stay hydrated. ...
  5. Take a prebiotic or probiotic. ...
  6. Check for food intolerances. ...
  7. Change your diet.

How to clean out bowels quickly? ›

To cleanse the colon, experts recommend drinking 6 to 8 cups of warm water per day. In addition, you should also eat plenty of foods with a high water content, including fruits and vegetables like watermelon, tomatoes, lettuce, and celery.

What speeds up digestion fast? ›

Top Foods That Speed Up Digestion

Ginger, used as a dried powder in cooking or fresh in tea or cooking, can reduce bloating and other digestive problems. Unsaturated fats like olive oil help with vitamin absorption. Vegetables with skin, which are rich in fiber, like potatoes, beans, and legumes.

How to speed up stomach emptying? ›

Changing eating habits
  1. eat foods low in fat and fiber.
  2. eat five or six small, nutritious meals a day instead of two or three large meals.
  3. chew your food thoroughly.
  4. eat soft, well-cooked foods.
  5. avoid carbonated, or fizzy, beverages.
  6. avoid alcohol.
  7. drink plenty of water or liquids that contain glucose and electrolytes, such as.

What helps a stomach ache after eating? ›

Twelve home remedies
  1. Drinking water. The body needs water to efficiently digest and absorb nutrients from foods and beverages. ...
  2. Avoiding lying down. Avoiding lying down may prevent indigestion from becoming heartburn. ...
  3. Ginger. ...
  4. BRAT diet. ...
  5. Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol. ...
  6. Avoiding difficult-to-digest foods. ...
  7. Baking soda. ...
  8. Figs.

What are the symptoms of bad digestion? ›

The first sign of problems in the digestive tract often includes one or more of the following symptoms:
  • Bleeding.
  • Bloating.
  • Constipation.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Heartburn.
  • Incontinence.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Pain in the belly.
Dec 31, 2023

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