DoctorSpeak: Now for a gut reset after Diwali overeating

As the lights of Diwali fade and the joyous celebrations give way to routine life, many are left grappling with an uninvited guest — digestive discomfort. The post-festive period often brings a wave of acidity, bloating, and sluggish digestion, symptoms that silently follow days of overeating and irregular meal patterns.

Every year, hospitals witness a noticeable rise in gastrointestinal (GI) complaints soon after the festival season. The abundance of high-fat sweets, fried snacks, caffeinated drinks and alcohol, coupled with erratic sleep and hydration patterns, places immense strain on the digestive system. What we see clinically is a sudden flare-up of gallbladder, pancreatic or acid reflux issues in patients who were otherwise stable.

Post-Diwali digestive dip

During Diwali, dietary discipline often takes a backseat. Repeated snacking, late-night parties, and oily foods cooked in reused oil overload the stomach’s capacity to digest efficiently. Moreover, sweets made with artificial ghee or trans fats add to the burden. For many, this leads to a temporary imbalance in gut flora — the beneficial bacteria that aid digestion.

High caffeine intake, especially among young adults who wish to stay alert through festivities, further dehydrates the system and triggers acidity. Alcohol, too, is a common irritant, known to inflame the stomach lining and, in susceptible individuals, the pancreas. The combination of poor dietary choices, reduced sleep, and stress makes the gut sluggish and prone to inflammation.

Silent diseases become overt

Gastrointestinal ailments like gallstones, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, and pancreatitis often remain dormant for years. However, festive indulgence can act as a trigger, converting a silent health condition into an acute emergency.

Patients may present with symptoms such as retrosternal burning, nausea, bloating, vomiting or severe abdominal pain radiating to the back.

Even a single episode of binge eating or excessive alcohol intake can precipitate gallstone attacks or acute pancreatitis in predisposed individuals. Those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome should be extra cautious. Ignoring persistent digestive symptoms and resorting to over-the-counter medication can delay timely treatment and worsen the outcome.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

During festive or wedding periods, when our dietary regime gets disturbed due to binge eating, of processed food and high caloric fast food, it alters the neuro-intestinal axis which may cause many abdominal symptoms like bloating, constipation, diarrhoea and cramps and pain in abdomen. Besides conventional medical treatment for dyspeptic symptoms and abdominal pain, the patient should be thoroughly investigated to rule out the possibility of co-existing dormant surgical diseases which may warrant operative intervention.

Timely medical attention

When digestive symptoms persist beyond a few days, medical consultation is crucial. The expert can recommend ultrasound, endoscopy or CT scan to identify the root cause. In complex cases, surgeries may be required. Modern techniques like laparoscopic GI surgeries can offer minimally invasive solutions, ensuring smaller incisions, minimal pain, quicker discharge, and faster return to normal activities. As lifestyle-related digestive disorders are on the rise, awareness and early medical intervention can prevent major complications.

Post-festivity plan

After the festivities, the focus must shift to recovery. A gentle, structured detox can help restore digestive balance.

Mindful, sustainable eating

Cultivate mindful eating habits like chewing food slowly, stopping before feeling full and favouring homemade dishes over packaged or street food. These habits can prevent many common GI issues. The digestive system has remarkable healing potential if we follow moderation in eating, adequate hydration and a balanced diet.

As you recover from the festive feasts, listen to your body. Persistent acidity, pain or bloating should not be ignored. Seek professional help early — because timely diagnosis and modern treatment options ensure that small digestive disturbances don’t turn into larger medical problems. Diwali may be over, but caring for your gut is the real celebration of health that must continue year-round.

— The writer is Director, Surgical Gastroenterology and GI Onco Surgery, Shalby Multispeciality Hospital, Mohali

Some practical tips

— Drink 6–8 glasses of water daily. Hydration supports enzyme function and flushes out toxins.

— Eat light, home-cooked meals like soups, boiled vegetables, khichdi, curd rice. Avoid deep-fried, oily, heavy masala foods and leftover sweets.

— Have more probiotics foods like curd, buttermilk, fermented foods to restore healthy gut bacteria.

— Limit caffeine and alcohol and let your liver and pancreas recover from Diwali excesses.

— Eat at regular intervals, as skipping meals or eating late at night worsens acid reflux.

— A 20–30-minute walk after every meal aids digestion and prevents bloating.

— Get adequate sleep to allow the gut to repair itself overnight.

— Manage stress. Meditation and mindful breathing positively impact digestion.

Factcheck

Overeating strains the digestive system, leading to both short-term discomfort and long-term health complications. When you eat more than your stomach can comfortably hold, it expands and puts pressure on surrounding organs, causing issues like bloating, gas, heartburn, acid reflux, inflammation and nausea. Long-term effects of chronic overeating include numerous health problems such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and gastrointestinal diseases like IBS.