Foods to Avoid over the Holidays

No one likes having gastrointestinal issues at family gatherings over the holidays. If you’re going to a Christmas or New Year’s party, there are some foods to avoid. We’re going to break down some of the foods that can be the hardest on your gut and why you should avoid them when you’re trying to enjoy time with family.

No one wants to be bloated, gassy or in the bathroom the entire time they’re visiting family. So, if you’re hosting, consider not having any of these foods out. If you’re visiting, consider just avoiding these foods altogether. Why risk getting sick on a snack when you’re trying to enjoy the holidays?

Foods to Avoid over the Holidays

Acidic Foods

Acidic foods, like soda pop, tomatoes and tomato sauce, citrus fruits and the like can all cause stomach problems. If you’re prone to acid reflux or heartburn, consider avoiding these foods. Whether it’s in the form of a snack or a major part of the meal, consider taking it easy on these foods. Acidic foods impact your stomach more when it’s empty, though, so maybe grab a few orange slices or a bit of grapefruit after the main course!

The worst part is, tomatoes and citrus fruits are really quite good for you. It’s unfortunate that their high acid content makes them rough on an empty stomach. However, if you eat them in moderation and make sure you don’t have them before a meal you should be okay over the holidays.

Dairy Products

A lot of people have a really hard time digesting milk. If too much lactose gets into your large intestine, it can even lead to diarrhea, which is a surefire way to ruin your holiday party. If you’ve got a history of lactose intolerance, avoid ice cream, milkshakes and the like as much as you can.

If you really, really want your dairy fix, consider hard cheeses or yogurt. Thanks to the way these are made, they actually have no lactose content. That goes for most types of frozen yogurt, too! So, if you’re really hankering for some dairy but can’t handle lactose, these are your best bets. Alternatively, you could also just carry Lactaid pills and take them before eating dairy products.

Alcoholic Drinks

Everyone loves eggnog around the holidays, right? Well, maybe you should take it a bit easy on the ‘nog. See, not only is it high in dairy content (see our previous paragraph), most people like to enjoy it spiked with rum. Drinking alcohol has been shown to have toxic effects on your stomach lining, as well as many other health complications.

The metabolic processes of your liver can be thrown off by alcohol consumption, too. This means that ingesting too much alcohol can cause serious stomach issues. That’s not to mention the risk of dehydration and other complications that can occur in the short term with alcohol consumption. In the long term it can even lead to increased risk for liver and heart disease.

Fatty Foods

Foods that are very high in fats, like potato chips, ice cream and red meat can upset your stomach. High-fat food items have a tendency to cause serious issues with the speed at which your intestines move food along. If slowed down too much, this can result in constipation. If sped up too much, this can instead result in diarrhea. In either event, you’ll experience significant discomfort in your abdomen as your intestines deal with the high-fat foods. Just take care to eat these foods sparingly, or avoid them altogether!

Spicy Foods

Peppers, curry powders and garlic can all cause your stomach to become upset. This goes double if you’re going from an empty stomach to chowing down on something spicy or heavily seasoned. In small quantities, spicy foods can be great for digestion. They help to kick your digestive system into overdrive and really add some zest to your meals!

However, if you have a sensitive stomach or eat too much spicy food, you might find yourself with an upset stomach. Also, be careful not to eat too much spicy food for fear of the discomfort that you could endure when you pass it. It may still be spicy after you digest it, if you catch our drift!

Artificial Sweeteners

Make sure you avoid diet sodas and other foods with artificial sweeteners. Not only are they bad for you in the long term, they can also cause your stomach lining to become irritated. Sorbitol, in particular, has been shown to cause bloating, diarrhea and nausea in some people. Just avoid it and save yourself the trouble!