Without food, we simply wouldn’t be able to survive. It gives us energy to do things and allows us to supply our body with the vitamins and nutrients that it needs to grow and repair; whilst this is true, many of us turn to food for reasons other than fuel.
With the abundance of treats, both sweet and savoury, of course we eat when we are hungry but we also eat if we are happy, if we are sad, we eat in celebration and we eat in our times of need.
Food is a huge part of our lives but sometimes we can overdo it. Indulging in too much can be a great experience for our taste buds but not so much for our digestive system as it has to work hard to break down the nutrients and pass them through our body. Do you feel lethargic when you start to eat too much? This is because your nervous system is telling your body to slow down and focus on digesting the food[1].
Eating too much can also cause heartburn and indigestion. The more food we eat, the more stomach acid is needed to digest it and with more acid in your stomach, it is more likely that it will be able to splash back up into your oesophagus and cause that burning feeling in your chest – heartburn. When do you overeat the most? Here’s some food for thought.
The Festive Season
The festive period is a short time once a year where many of us see the green light to overdo it on how much food and drink we consume. We wait for some types of festive food all year around so when we do have them, we feel we have to make the most of it. The festive period is a time for decadence any many of us feel we have to take advantage of the one time of year when no one cares if you’re eating dessert for breakfast and junk throughout the rest of the day.
Birthdays
This day is all about you, it’s your birthday! There will be large breakfasts and cake to get through but just be careful of eating too much as you could be in danger of developing heartburn and indigestion. Don’t let it ruin your day, think carefully of what you want to eat and how much of it you want and be careful not to overindulge.
Celebrations
There are lots of reason to celebrate throughout life, whether it’s our own celebration or a loved ones. Maybe it’s a wedding, a new home or the birth of a new addition to the family; these are all happy times in life and people want to share their happy moments with others. A big milestone calls for a celebration, and a celebration always calls for some good food.
Heartbreak
Equally, sometime when we are sad, we eat. Heartbreak can be a painful time in anyone’s life and whilst you may not be in the mood to talk to anyone, your favourite food will always comfort you through your hard times. Whilst a whole tub of ice cream after you’ve just been through a breakup won’t do any harm, don’t allow comfort eating become a normal part of your everyday life.
Consider over-the-counter (OTC) medication
So there you have it! There were just a few examples of different occasions when you will be eating too much. When heartburn and indigestion strikes, you could try an over the counter option by reaching out to healthcare providers. If symptoms are severe or prolonged you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
*This article is meant for educational purposes. All information presented is not meant to diagnose or prescribe.
Article published 25 March 2021
