Thanksgiving is a holiday we all look forward to! 90% of Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. As a non-denominational, secular holiday, it is arguable the most celebrated holiday. It is a time to give thanks and have gratitude, and spend with friends and family and loved ones. Of course, the main event is Thanksgiving dinner! It is certainly a holiday centered around food, and a lot of it! Holidays like Thanksgiving involve indulging in high fat, high carb foods, rich desserts, carbonated drinks and alcohol. As enjoyable and amazing as the holiday foods are, the overindulgence often leads to a bloated stomach. Bloat is a condition that causes the stomach to distend, and feel pressure, full and tight.
Large portions, and overeating can overload the stomach, causing discomfort and bloating. Foods that are high in fat take longer to digest, which can slow down your digestive system and lead to bloating. Drinking soda or other fizzy drinks introduces extra gas into your digestive system, leading to bloating. Alcohol causes dehydration, stomach irritation, gas and slowed digestion. Many Thanksgiving dishes are salty, which can cause water retention and bloating. Pies, cakes, and other desserts are high in sugar, which can ferment in the digestive tract, contributing to gas and bloating. Dairy-heavy dishes (like mashed potatoes with butter or creamy casseroles) and dishes heavy in gluten like stuffing and dessert, can cause bloating, especially if you’re lactose or gluten intolerant. While bloat happens for many people who do not have food sensitivities on Thanksgiving, it is exacerbated even more for those who do have intolerances.
Get the right testing!
As we know, food sensitivities are some of the top contributors to bloating and digestive symptoms. Thanksgiving dinner often contain common and hidden food items that can trigger sensitivity symptoms. Thankfully, allergytest.co is here to help! As one of the top food sensitivity testing companies, allergytest.co has helped so many people manage their digestive symptoms and food sensitivities. offers one of the most state of the art, easy, and inexpensive food intolerance tests available! This panel screens for 63 of the most common food intolerances. Using ELISA testing for raised IgG4 antibodies, this blood spot test offers accurate lab results to enable you to adjust your diet to reduce or avoid triggers.
Results are delivered to you via one easy-to-understand report. The personal food intolerance report includes the following key elements:
- Explanations of the testing process.
- IgG4 reactions to items screened.
- Elimination diet recommendations.
The expert team of intolerance technicians and lab managers have over 20 years of combined experience in allergy & intolerance testing and work from their category 2, ISO9001 accredited allergy and intolerance testing laboratory.
How can we prepare so bloat doesn’t ruin Thanksgiving dinner?
First and foremost, identifying sensitivities at allergytest.co is the first step in managing food sensitivities and the unpleasant symptoms that come with them. Planning ahead by identifying which foods will contain triggers is extremely helpful. Many people will choose to make and prepare some of their own dishes to share. They may choose to substitute traditional ingredients with gluten-free, dairy-free, and/or low-FODMap options. Eating smaller portions can also be helpful in managing holiday bloat. Due the large number of delicious dishes, it is a natural reaction to eat fast. All of the senses are activated, especially smell, taste, and sight. Trying to eat more mindfully and more slowly at dinner can help overloading the digestive system.
Tips for Relieving Bloat after Thanksgiving
So you overindulged! No big deal. Don’t underestimate gentle movement, like a light walk, and its ability to help relieve bloat and support digestion. Teas with peppermint, ginger, and lemon are also great for fostering digestion, along with drinking water which flushes out excess salt and fosters digestion. Awareness of food sensitivities, small adjustments to your diet, and mindful eating will help ensure Thanksgiving dinner is enjoyable, and bloat and other digestive symptoms are the last thing on your mind!
