Top Holiday Foods That Might Upset Your Gut
Some people say that one of the best parts about the holidays is getting to enjoy their favorite festive treats. But going overboard on anything can sometimes bring on not-so-fun consequences. A lot of holiday spreads have foods that might not sit too well in the stomach. According to a survey done by OnePoll for the natural laxative brand Prunelax, it turns out many Americans are concerned about what their go-to holiday eats and drinks might do to their gut.
In a poll of 2,000 U.S. adults, it was found that 72% eagerly anticipate the food during the holiday season, yet 65% acknowledge that this is a challenging time for their diet. Throughout the holiday season, 75% of respondents find themselves eating more frequently during the day. Meanwhile, 76% observe changes in their eating habits more often than at any other time of the year.
More than half (51%) often feel like they went overboard with the food during the holidays. As a result, many end up with occasional constipation (56%), indigestion (49%), and acid reflux (45%). Almost half (48%) say the changes to their routines and eating habits during the holidays mess with their digestive flow. Seventy percent say it happens more often during the holiday season, and 69% say it’s worse when they’re traveling for the holidays.
Top holiday foods that leave us “backed up.”
The study pinpoints the main holiday foods causing occasional constipation, like turkey (44%), pecan pie (41%), and potatoes (39%). Even favorite holiday drinks like chocolate milk (45%), non-alcoholic eggnog (38%), and hot cocoa (38%) got the blame.
To dodge these issues, 51% of those surveyed make a habit of doing something before eating: drinking more water (53%), using acid reflux meds (47%), or loading up on fiber (45%). A quarter (27%) also reach for natural laxatives.
Check out the complete study here.
7 Festive Games and Activities for a Memorable Holiday Party
Name That Holiday Song
All you need is someone with a phone full of great Christmas songs, ready to play DJ. See who can guess the festive songs first after hearing just a few notes. It’s a laid-back way to enjoy some post-meal fun.
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Never Have I Ever Holiday Edition
Give this timeless game a festive twist by asking questions like, “I’ve never regifted a present,” and find out what secrets your friends and family may be hiding. You can stick to the traditional rules where those who’ve committed the act take a sip of their beverage, or you can opt for a point-based system, with the winner receiving a holiday surprise as their reward.
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Present Stacking
Here’s a game that allows you to unleash your creativity. Wrap a selection of uniquely shaped objects, and the challenge is to see who can build the tallest stack of presents. Using fragile items in this game should be avoided for obvious reasons.
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Christmas Carol Challenge
Here’s a straightforward, no-fuss game that’s perfect a cozy home get-together or an office party. Gather everyone in a circle, and the game begins with one person singing a line from a holiday song. The person to their right then must continue with the next line of the song, and so on. You can choose from timeless classics like Jingle Bells or opt for a more contemporary holiday hit like Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas is You. While you might know the opening lines of these songs, it becomes quite a challenge as the game progresses.
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Best/Worst Gift
Distribute four slips of paper to each participant. Every guest is tasked with jotting down two positive Christmas gifts and two negative ones: one from their real experiences and one fabricated. Collect all the slips in a container and let the group take turns guessing which presents were genuinely given and which were made up.
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Saran Wrap Ball Game
Make a big plastic wrap ball stuffed with little gifts like mini liquor bottles, gift cards, candy, and cash. One person starts by unwrapping it, while someone else takes the dice and tries to roll doubles. The twist is that you can’t stop unwrapping until your neighbor rolls those elusive doubles, so the pressure’s on to keep the ball moving. Players get to keep all the goodies they uncover during their turn, so everyone’s in for some prizes. You can make it more challenging by requiring the person unwrapping to wear oven mitts.
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Celebrity
Here’s a fun party game you can enjoy with friends or family anytime, anywhere. You split into two teams, and each player writes down 5 celebrity names on pieces of paper. You take turns being the clue-giver. In round one, the clue-giver describes the celebrity without saying their name or nickname, and the team guesses. In round two, you can only use one word as a clue. Round three is like Charades, where you act out the celebrity without speaking. Keep score to see which team guesses the most celebrities correctly. It’s a great game for any gathering.
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