Black Friday

Scott Schwab:
With all the shopping and events for the day after, it is important how you spend your day. Did you know that about 40% of people who report stuffing themselves or maybe better said, overeating; experience sickness. Everything from flu like symptoms, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and headaches. Let's explore the reasons why this may be.
Often times when eating Thanksgiving foods, the mentality is to see how much we can eat Rather than giving thanks for the food we have. Moderation is essential in all situations. This also is not represented by our normal eating. The reason for this is our meal usually includes family or friends and in a setting where it is more of a sit down meal, many courses, and deserts. The fact that many of us go back for seconds and thirds, plus including deserts starts to represent challenges. Not to mention the soda and the snacks set out for plenty of grazing.
Our bodies are amazing and get used to the cycle we usually choose. That goes with the food we eat, the exercise we do or don't do, and the lifestyles we live. When we change that, even for a day, will change how our bodies digest. More than anything, the sickness that we feel deals with the slowing of our metabolism. When we overeat, we simply stuff to much into a system that is not adequate to accept the higher volume. Imagine a conveyor belt system that is flowing and plugs up at a certain point and shuts down the entire system.
Two more factors are oxygen and liquid. Imagine that same example with the flow of a product, when things get backed up and shut down the flow of oxygen to our brain and the flow of oxygen through our blood is slowed. This causes the headaches, the drowsiness, and irritability. Fatigue is naturally caused by tryptophan, but a more serious issue is the problems that come from overeating. Finally, think of your stomach as a ballon and realize the more we eat, the more our stomachs expand and press on organs and rib cage, which will bring the discomfort on our stomach and again shortness of breath. We do not drink enough H2o which helps with the oxygen equation and aids the digestive process naturally.

In Conclusion:
Plan for next year to not put yourself into the same situation by making adjustments. Also one thing I have left out that family gatherings can and will bring shared bugs that bring some of those symptoms we talked about. Overeating is the majority cause of why people feel the way they feel, but know that often times when families get together sickness can happen. Drinking plenty of water, taking your daily vitamin, and exercising, will help you in any kind of circumstance, especially the holidays.