5 Easy Fixes for Holiday Tummy Troubles
Here's how to enjoy the treats without the stomachache.
For weeks ahead of time, we look forward to the delicious meals and tasty treats of the holiday season. Wouldn’t it be great to enjoy it all without feeling bloated or sick to your stomach? The good news: You can! These simple, proven strategies offer speedy relief when you’ve overindulged.
Press on your wrist to quell queasiness.
Stimulating this acupressure point can ease stomach upset more effectively than anti-nausea medications, report researchers in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Acupuncturist Sarah Mantell explains how to do it: Find the spot three finger-widths below the crease of the inner wrist, between two tendons in the middle. Press firmly and circle counterclockwise while taking three deep breaths. Release, repeat twice, then switch to your other wrist.
Pop a piece of gum to combat heartburn.
Chewing gum stimulates production of saliva, which is rich in minerals that neutralize acid. And as experts at King’s College London point out, chewing gum helps lower acid in the esophagus by 37 percent. Tip: Reach for cinnamon instead of peppermint, which can be a heartburn trigger for many women.
Imagine a beach vacation to ease cramping.
Picturing your stomach pain being washed away like sand in the tide can cut cramping by 82 percent within 10 minutes, British researchers say. The reason, gastroenterologist Elsa Gerikson, M.D., explains: Visualizing a soothing outcome calms painful spasms in the intestines.
Clear the table to banish bloating.
Getting up from the table for a bit can cut bloat and belly discomfort by 70 percent in 20 minutes, say University of Washington researchers. The reason: Moving your legs and hips stimulates the release of serotonin, the “happy hormone” that also speeds stomach-emptying.
Sip some vinegar to flush out sugar.
When too many sweets lead to a sour stomach, sipping a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (ACV) diluted in a cup of water could cut symptoms by up to 65 percent. University of Connecticut researchers say ACV prods the release of sugar-digesting enzymes, helping empty the stomach.
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
