New Delhi, March 2 (IANS): Your health is in your hands on festivals like Easter, which will be celebrated next month. Make sure to avoid digestive issues such as indigestion and bloating by eating good quality probiotic nutrition and choosing the right drinks.
Nutritionist Sarah West has shared tips on how one can beat the bloat this Easter, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
* Try to eat little and often: Because the body finds hard to digest fat hence a large, fattening meal can remain in the stomach for up to two hours while the gastric juices try to break it down, causing an uncomfortable full feeling and bloating. Give your digestive process a rest by consuming smaller quantities over the course of the day rather than having one big blow out.
* Don't skip meals: If you're prone to indigestion, don't be tempted to skip meals to save on calories. Eating helps 'mop up' some of that acid, so a healthy snack is better than nothing at all. A mix of protein and complex carbohydrates (such as an oatcake with peanut butter, a piece of fruit and a handful of nuts or some vegetables sticks with hummous) is ideal.
* Take it slow: Many of us eat our food far too quickly, meaning that the saliva in the mouth doesn't get a chance to start breaking down food in the vital first stage of digestion. If food isn't adequately broken down, this can cause problems further down the line in the form of gas and bloating. Always take the time to chew each bite properly.
* Take a good quality probiotic: A large quantity of sugary, fatty foods can upset the body's balance of intestinal flora -- promoting the growth of bad bacteria and making you more likely to suffer from unpleasant digestive symptoms. Taking a 'live' probiotic can help to readdress the balance of bacteria and leave you feeling more comfortable.
* Be careful of what you drink: Alcohol is a common indigestion culprit as it can damage the protective mucus lining of the stomach, leading to inflammation. The bubbles and artificial sweeteners in fizzy drinks can also cause your stomach to balloon. Alternating each alcoholic or fizzy drink with a glass of water is a great way to help keep unpleasant symptoms at bay.