Common causes of gastrointestinal discomfort after the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday and suggestions from Chinese medicine practitioners

2026/09/28 11:10

Gastrointestinal discomfort after a holiday dinner is usually caused by "eating too much, eating too fast, and eating too late" all at the same time. (Picture taken from shutterstock)

[Reporter Lin Zhiyi/Report from Taipei] The Mid-Autumn Festival holiday is coming to an end. Many people have eaten big meals and barbecues for several days in a row, and have begun to experience gastrointestinal discomfort, such as bloating, nausea, hiccups, and even acid reflux and loss of appetite the next day. Traditional Chinese medicine doctors suggest that walking around after eating can help relieve general overeating and abdominal distension. If there is obvious flatulence, it is recommended to wait for the gastrointestinal discomfort to subside before eating a light, normal diet first, and not to continue to increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract.

Chinese medicine practitioner Lai Ruixin explained that gastrointestinal discomfort after a holiday dinner is usually caused by "eating too much, eating too fast, and eating too late" at the same time. It is recommended that people eat vegetables first, then eat an appropriate amount of protein, and control the portion of foods with high fat content. Slowing down the eating speed will help reduce the burden after a large meal.

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However, Lai Ruixin mentioned that barbecue is often served in batches, and people easily forget how much they have eaten while chatting. By the time they leave the table, their stomachs are often overloaded, and the meat itself takes a long time to digest. Combining it with fatty meats and other high-fat foods can easily cause gastric emptying to slow down, causing bloating and stuffiness. Drinks such as soda and alcohol can easily put more burden on the stomach.

Lai Ruixin said that many people think that after eating, they just "sit and rest", or even lie on the sofa and start scrolling on their mobile phones. However, this approach is not very effective, and people who are prone to gastroesophageal reflux will instead experience chest burning, acid reflux, or a stuck feeling in the throat. It is recommended that after meals, you can maintain a sitting position or stand up and move slowly to keep the body in a relaxed state.

As for drinking a cup of tea or coffee after a meal to "relieve greasiness," Lai Ruixin said that people should pay attention to their personal physique. If they are prone to acid reflux, heart palpitations, or are sensitive to caffeine, drinking a lot of coffee or strong tea after a meal may not be suitable. Especially if you have already consumed a lot of irritating drinks at a dinner party, drinking another cup of coffee after returning home may make your stomach more uncomfortable.

If obvious flatulence has already occurred, Lai Ruixin said that if the flatulence is only temporary, you only need to observe your diet and work schedule, and then resume a light, normal diet after the symptoms subside. However, if the symptoms last for a long time, or are even combined with severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, black stools, bloody stools, difficulty swallowing, chest pain and other abnormal symptoms, you should not simply regard it as "eating too much" and should seek medical examination as soon as possible.

Lai Ruixin also reminded that there is no need to be overly nervous for an occasional holiday dinner. What really needs to be paid attention to is "eating and drinking for several days in a row." If you eat barbecue, hot pot, fried food plus desserts and drinks every day even during the holidays, your stomach will naturally protest. It is a relatively simple and easy way to maintain good health by leaving some time for the stomach and intestines to breathe between meals and then returning to normal eating at the next meal.