Reducing stress and engaging in gentle exercise are two effective ways to relieve discomfort after overeating. Walking for 5-10 minutes after a meal can help promote digestion, increase the time food takes to move to the small intestine, and soothe acid reflux. Additionally, some simple massage movements can help reduce bloating and indigestion.
Consuming foods that support digestion, such as green tea, herbal teas like ginger tea, lemon water, and yogurt, can also be beneficial. Green tea contains antioxidants that reduce bloating, while lemon water stimulates hydrochloric acid production for better digestion. Yogurt with beneficial bacteria can regulate bowel movements and improve digestion.
Dr. Vu Truong Khanh, Head of the Department of Gastroenterology at Tam Anh General Hospital in Hanoi explained that eating too much at one meal can burden the stomach and affect intestinal motility. This can lead to slow gastric emptying, excessive stomach acid secretion, pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, impaired contractile function, and reflux. Undigested food can decompose and ferment in the stomach, causing symptoms like tightness, heaviness, belching, nausea